Remodeling and expanding Carnegie-era library buildings

Schlipf, Fred

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/89731 Copy

Description

Title

Remodeling and expanding Carnegie-era library buildings

Author(s)

Schlipf, Fred

Issue Date

2014

Keyword(s)

• Library Buildings
• Historic Libraries
• Remodeling and Expansion

Abstract

One of the most satisfying undertakings in library building design can be the expansion and remodeling of historic public libraries from the early twentieth century. However, although the logic of preservation and conservation leads to strong public interest in the reuse of existing structures, the costs can be extremely high and the results can be functionally disappointing. Among the major problems frequently faced are modern building codes, load-bearing walls, the difficulty of installing modern HVAC systems, flimsy original construction materials, locations that no longer meet community needs, poor electrical wiring, elderly windows, historic brickwork that is difficult to match, inadequate sites, total inaccessibility for users with disabilities, bad modern lighting, and basements with low ceilings. However, many of these problems can be solved—or at least dealt with—with careful programming and planning, and expansion projects can result in handsome libraries that can serve for a second century.

Publisher

Johns Hopkins University Press and the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

ISSN

1559-0682

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89731

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.2014.0002

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2014 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Owning Collections