Click on pictures for enlarged view

Award - Citation

Project - Roland Park Library Addition

Category - Institutional

Project Location - Baltimore, Maryland

Architects - Alexander Design Studio

Associated Architects - McLain Associates, Laurie McLain, AIA

Owner/Developer - Enoch Pratt Free Library, Enoch Pratt Library Initiative

Contractor - Southway Builders, Inc.

Photographer(s) - Alan Gilbert, Patrick Ross

Jury Comments - It’s great the way the objects of the existing library were given towards the autonomy and then the additions were placed separate from connections and tied together with one of the materials of the existing library, but let the zinc and metallic materials play and used in creating the distinction of public connection. There was usually a gap between the existing structure and the new structure but that you sense when you are leaving one and entering the other. It was useful to place the stairway on the central axis. The restoration to the existing library building by pulling out the ceiling and then exposing previous concealed structure was very successful. The gesture of leaving the existing civic presence sort of untouched as much as possible and sliding the new architecture by, creating a groove or gap between the two, as opposed to just adding on to the building. It was very well executed. It’s almost as if the existing building is glorified, but the addition to it in no way did it make it less important, but it actually made it more important.