Project Details
- Project Name
- Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Beechview
- Location
-
1910 Broadway Avenue
PA
- Client/Owner
- Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
- Project Types
-
Cultural ,Entertainment
- Project Scope
- Renovation/Remodel
- Size
- 8,200 sq. feet
- Year Completed
- 2015
- Awards
- 2015 AIA - Local Awards
- Shared by
- Jennifer Sebranek
- Consultants
-
Construction Manager: Volpatt Construction,Civil Engineer: SciTek Consultants, Inc,Structural Engineer: Whitney Bailey Cox & Magnani, LLC,Other: Allen & Shariff Engineering, LLC
- Project Status
- Built
- Style
- Modern
Project Description
HEADLINE: A Jewel in the Crown
INTRO: A bold renovation preserves a treasured amenity in a diverse neighborhood.
BODY:
Residents of Pittsburgh’s Beechview neighborhood fought to save their branch library from closure and wanted to honor its status in the community. A complete transformation brings a 50-year-old wallflower prominently into the spotlight. A front addition creates a welcoming and accessible presence that proudly “greets the street” and provides extra interior space. Expansive front windows offer views out and a full-length clerestory brings in natural light all day. The first floor and lower level children’s area are connected by an open stairway. Low shelving units in the children’s space enable young readers to find familiar titles and seek out new favorites; an intimate reading nook underneath the stair is a playful area to discover and share. The adult services area has generous lounge and study seating, a comfortable computer space, and shelving arranged for easy browsing. An enlarged teen area in the front corner of the building is sheltered by an exterior brick screen that filters light and distinctly separates it from the adult section.
QUOTE
“It’s going to be a landmark in the community, the jewel in the crown. Everyone who has come in has been enormously pleased and just delighted with their new library.”
–Audrey Iacone, Beechview Branch Manager