IIDA Announces Winners of ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Awards

The International Interior Design Association and the American Library Association recently announces the winners of the 2016 Library Interior Design Awards. The biennial awards program recognizes achievement in library interior design aesthetics, creativity, and function.
 
“The entries that we received for this biennial competition clearly speak to the evolving needs of 21st-century library patrons,” IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA, LEED AP, said. “They illustrate that library spaces can inspire while still offering the technology, services, and programming that patrons have come to rely on. With our partners at ALA, we are pleased to honor and celebrate this year’s winners.”
 
Projects were judged by a panel of distinguished professionals, including Christy S. Cain, IIDA, RID, LEED AP BD+C, principal at idea|span; Stasia Czech Suleiman, IIDA, NCIDQ, vice president/senior project interior designer at HOK; Jessica N. Kayongo, J.D., M.A., sociology librarian with Hesburgh Libraries at the University of Notre Dame; and Mindy Sorg, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP, interior designer with OPN Architects.
 
“The submissions to this competition were extremely strong,” said Suleiman. “The projects represented a range of design execution—from understated elegance to bold color and whimsical elements—it was clear that the winning firms thoroughly understood their clients and how to cater to the needs and preferences of the populations who would be using the libraries.” 
 
The winners of the 2016 ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Awards are:
 
Public Libraries, Over 30,000 sq. ft.
Firm: MSR Design, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Project: Madison Central Library, Madison, WI, USA
 
Public Libraries, 30,000 sq. ft. and smaller
Firm: HCMA Architecture + Design / Dub Architects Ltd., Vancouver, Canada
Project: Mill Woods Library, Seniors’ Centre and Multicultural Facility, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
 
Firm: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, Chicago, USA
Project: Chicago Public Library, Chinatown Branch, Chicago, USA
 
Academic Libraries, Over 30,000 sq. ft.
Firm: Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA, USA
Project: Jen Library, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA, USA
 
Special Libraries, Over 30,000 sq. ft.
Firm: Shepley Bulfinch, Boston, MA, USA
Project: The David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
 
Special Libraries, 30,000 sq. ft. and smaller
Firm: BenGuo Design, Shenzhen, China
Project: Southern Study in Shenzhen Library, Shenzhen, China
 
Outstanding Historic Renovation Project
Firm: Schwartz/Silver Architects, Boston, MA, USA
Project: Charles E. Shain Library Renovation at Connecticut College, New London, CT, USA
 
Single Space Design
Firm: SIKORA (INTERIORS) WNĘTRZA, Gdańsk, Poland
Project: STATION CULTURE - TRAIN STATION ADAPTATION, Rumia, Poland
 
The Best of Competition winner will be announced on June 26 during the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando, where all of the competition winners will be celebrated. Images of the winning projects can be seen on the IIDA website.