Fox Lake District Library

Doubling Size While Remaining Operational

Fox Lake, Illinois

Local masonry is symbolic of the library’s permanence in the community. Fritted, clear, and spandrel glass; phenolic panels; and angular forms represent the library’s future role in information delivery.

We included colorful and playful elements in the design of the children’s library to match an intellectually stimulating experience with fun, visual, and tactile surfaces.

High-level transparency on the front building façade, coupled with natural light, is intended to invite patrons into the facility. Visible from outside of the building, the stairway to the adult collection acts as a point of orientation.

We incorporated a number of green initiatives into the design of the library, including landscape filtration, daylight harvesting, recyclable materials, and a vegetative roof.

4

awards recognizing project design

We worked closely with the Fox Lake District Library to construct a new facility more than double the size of the existing facility. The 45,000-square-foot library was designed to be built on an adjacent piece of property while the existing library remained fully operational. Due to the required building footprint and site amenities, this directly impacted the location of the building and site development, but eliminated the cost and issues associated with relocation during the construction phase of the project.

Client

Fox Lake District Library

Square Footage

45,000 SF

Awards

Publication Finalist, The Year in Architecture: Library Buildings

Library Journal

Library Design Showcase, Sustainable Construction

American Library Association

Merit in Architecture, Distinguished Building

AIA Northeast Illinois Chapter

Silver Medal Design

ALA

Services

Architecture

Markets

Community Facilities

Regions

Midwest