AIA Honors Central Library

 

ST. LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY WINS PRESTIGIOUS AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (AIA) HONOR AWARD FOR CENTRAL LIBRARY TRANSFORMATION

 

 The St. Louis Public Library is pleased to announce that the Central Library restoration and renewal project added to its impressive collection of major awards on January 10, 2014, when the American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced that Central Library is one of eleven winners of the 2014 Institute Honor Award for Architecture.  This is the second AIA award of national significance that Central and Cannon Design have won in the last 12 months; the first being the AIA/ALA Library Building Award in May 2013.

 

 

The AIA Institute Honor Award is one of the most prestigious architecture awards in the world. It is sought after by architects throughout the United States, recognizing buildings built around the globe.

 

The Central Library project offered many unique challenges to the design team, particularly the delicate task of integrating old and new in a landmark building. The AIA jury was impressed, noting that "The transformation of the interior stacks is fantastic; it provided the opportunity for a progressive intervention that is still sensitive to the host building. The canopy on the exterior, too, is modern yet sympathetic to the historic building. The original façade is very modest, and the renovation did not upstage that."

 

Other jury remarks included that "The restored building is lovely, bright, and it maintains the Cass Gilbert glory. It is well detailed, restrained, and bold all at once."

 

Waller McGuire, Executive Director of the St. Louis Public Library, is quick to praise Cannon Design principal George Nikolajevich and his team. Says McGuire, "The AIA Institute Honor Award is a crowning achievement for an architect, and an acknowledgement of a rare combination of professionalism, skill, and pure artistry. Working with Cannon Design throughout this great undertaking was not only a wonderful professional experience, but simply a joy. From the very beginning through the long, infinitely detailed construction process; from George himself to the most junior member of his team: Cannon worked as though they were personally responsible for the success of the vital mission of Central Library as well as the judgment of history in reinventing a masterpiece."

 

"For Central Library to win the highest recognition from both the National Trust for Historic preservation and the American Institute of Architects shows the depth of talent that St. Louis brings to the field. From the architects to the engineers to the workers who delicately restored the original lights and marble floors, Central Library shows the world what St. Louis can do. Congratulations and thanks to each member of the team."

 

The people of St. Louis have shown their appreciation by visiting Central Library in record numbers. In the year since it reopened to the public, Central has averaged nearly 40,000 visitors per month. People from all walks of life come to do research, use public access computers, take training classes, enjoy concerts, lectures, and live theater; download books, magazines, movies, music, and more; or just find a quiet corner to curl up in and read. For more information, call 314-539-0300 or for a tour, visit: http://www.slpl.org/slpl/library/central_tour.asp

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