Project: Library Addition and Renovation
Client: Warrenville Public Library Disctict
Location: Warrenville, IL
Case Study: Warrenville Public Library
Challenge: To accommodate the town’s continued population growth, the Warrenville Public Library District presented us with a project that was both complex and exciting. Their aim to expand their existing library into a facility three times its size posed unique challenges that required resourceful solutions. With a team of supporters that included the library’s staff, we completed the project on time and within budget. Even more fulfilling, the library remained opened throughout the new construction and renovation process.
The original Warrenville Public Library was 10,000 square feet and built in 1986. In 2000, the District purchased additional property south of the facility in an effort to explore expansion ideas. The library’s board of trustees wanted to maintain the original building’s structure while adding new additions that kept the public portion of the library on one level and included entrance access from both north and south sides of the facility.
Solution: As we soon discovered, two primary challenges had to be overcome. The landscape at the south end of the building dropped 14 feet below the facility’s floor, and the rear of the building housed offices and workspaces for employees. From a design standpoint, the need for a new floor plan was quickly apparent. In using the existing topography, we created a 22,000 square foot public level at the same floor level as the original building. The new 6,000 square foot lower level includes an additional public entrance. A new circulation desk that is centered along the facility’s main axis controls both entrances.
A grand two-story entrance at the south entrance highlights its exterior. While the north side entrance has been maintained, its character is now complemented by durable accents that include the use of wood trusses, wood siding, and planters. The addition of face brick will help the building last long into the future. In ensuring interior continuity, we strived to make the new facility more permeable. Large glass curtain walls adjacent to the facility’s readings areas as well as clerestory windows in the building’s vaulted spaces and a skylight in the center of the facility bring an abundance of natural light in and offer visitors an expansive view of the outdoors. In carrying out the vision of the library’s staff while preserving originality, we created internal spaces that are both comfortable and user friendly for the people of Warrenville. We’re confident it will serve them well for many years to come.
