Five Winning Libraries
John Hill
19. Mai 2021
Taylor Street Apartments and Little Italy Branch Library, Chicago, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (Photo: Tom Harris)
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and American Library Association (ALA) have announced the five winners of the 2021 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards, "the only award that recognizes entire library structures and all aspects of their design."
Every year the AIA partners ALA/Library Leadership and Management Association to "honor the best in library architecture and design," asserting that "libraries are more than learning centers — they’re also enduring examples of architectural excellence." Given the participation of the two organizations, the jury* is made up of three architects and three representatives selected by the ALA. The AIA/ALA Library Building Awards are open to libraries anywhere in the world that allow public access, as long as they were completed in 2015 or later and involved an architect registered in the United States.
The winners are shown below in alphabetical order by library name, but be sure to visit the AIA website to see additional photos and learn more about the five winning libraries.
Arizona State Library Hayden Library Reinvention, Tempe (AZ), Ayers Saint Gross (Photo: Gabe Border)
Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library Renovation, Boston, Utile (Photo: Anton Grassl Photography)
Sunset Park Library, Brooklyn (NY), Leroy Street Studio Architecture (Photo: Halkin/Mason Photography)
Taylor Street Apartments and Little Italy Branch Library, Chicago, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (Photo: Tom Harris)
Valente Library, Cambridge (MA), William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc. (Photo: Robert Benson Photography)
2021 Jury for AIA/ALA Library Building Awards:- Elaine Molinar, (Chair), Snøhetta, New York
- Teri Canada, Evoke Studio, Durham, NC
- Jennie C. West, Studio West LLC, New Orleans
- Sarah Meilleur, Calgary Public Library, Calgary, Alberta
- Sharon L. Bostick, SLB Planning LLC, Chicago
- Kris Johnson, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT