Reed & Heckenlively, a prominent architect in the region around the turn of the century, was commissioned to design what would become Springfield’s first public library - the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library. Completed in 1905, the new library and eventual Springfield-Greene County Library District (SGCLD) was made possible by the determination of Springfield citizens and a donation of $50,000 from American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, on the condition the city would contribute $5,000 a year for books and maintenance. In 1937, towards the end of the Great Depression the library was enlarged to its current size as part of the Works Progress Administration, aimed at providing paying jobs to the unemployed through federal sponsored public works projects.
Over 100 years later, the building was in need of modifications to modernize the spaces and bring the building into compliance. The design of a new 2,000 square foot entry is guided by the fundamental principles of public service, providing a space where all people are treated with dignity and empathy, regardless of their physical, cognitive, or social-economic circumstances. Going beyond the minimum requirements established by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) the new entry strives to establish an environment where people’s experience in the library is not dictated by their abilities.
Organized around two ramps that weave through the addition, the circulation of the new entry is democratized; everyone travels along a common path. Along the ramp, there are areas where people can rest that correspond with breaks in the facade, offering views of the surrounding community. To respect the civic presence of the historic building, the architecture of the addition is kept simple and restrained. The intricate stonework of the existing building is left exposed on the interior of the addition, celebrating the craft of the original stone masons. Full height glass reveals between the new and old lets natural light filter into the addition. On the lower level of the addition space for people to hang out is shaped by the switchback ramp, giving the library additional programmable space.
