SNHA’s $18M expansion plan for Illinois library gets green light

by sadia_badhon | January 28, 2020 7:00 am

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Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects[2] (SNHA) has received approval from St. Charles Public Library District and the City of St. Charles, Illinois, to complete an $18.6 million renovation and expansion of the St. Charles Public Library[3] (SCPL).

The complex project unifies three existing sections of the library and reintegrates the original Carnegie Library into daily activities. When complete, the building will occupy nearly 6178 m² (66,500 sf).

The design seeks to improve the user experience by accommodating the latest library service trends and creating more friendly environments. Additional site planning will also address the under-utilization of the property, which extends to approximately three-quarters of a block.

SNHA’s design for the renovation and expansion project features:

• a new building entry which will integrate the original Carnegie Library into daily library activities;
• a new main stair and elevatorthat will improve accessibility;
• a new public meeting roomlocated near the library entry, acoustically isolated individual and group study rooms, youth library program room, and dedicated teen space;
• a maker space to include a fully equipped audiovisual (AV) studio;
• additional public seating, much of which is concentrated in the library’s existing light-filled two-story space;
• a sunken courtyardthat will increase daylight into the lower-level youth library and accommodate outdoor library programming;
• expanded and consolidated staff work areas;
• a completely re-planned site that increases parking, improves safety, adds a drive-up service window,and creates landscaped site amenities.

The library’s construction manager plans to break ground in March with expected completion next year.

Source URL: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/snhas-18m-expansion-plan-for-illinois-library-gets-green-light/

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