Cannon Design, an internationally ranked architectural, engineering and planning firm, is pleased to announce it has completed work on the transformative restoration, renovation and adaptive reuse of the St. Louis Public Library, Central Library. The crown jewel of the St. Louis Public Library system, Central Library was originally funded by Andrew Carnegie and designed by renowned architect Cass Gilbert in 1912.
Photography: Timothy Hursley
The Library?s revitalization increases public space by more than 38,000 SF, modernizes the library for the 21st century, contributes to the urban renewal of St. Louis and enhances the building?s stature as a cultural treasure. More than 11,000 people visited the library in its opening week. The library continues to see increased visitation and acceptance, winning the Architizer A+ award for the best library, a competition with more than 150,000 public votes worldwide. Photography: Timothy Hursley
The original three-story building was designed in Beaux Arts style featuring a ceremonial granite stair, vaulted reception foyer and centrally located Great Hall. The hall is surrounded by five wings, four dedicated to public reading rooms and the fifth, the North Wing, to a multistory depository of books closed to the public. A structurally independent steel skeleton, doubling as a bookshelf and floor support, was inserted by Gilbert between the walls of the North Wing. This ?building within the building,? required replacement to address fire ...