In 1987, the city's main library branch had been in use for more than 90 years, and it was starting to show it's age. So, a new building was commissioned. This new home for the library was to be on the South end of the Loop, and it was going to be big. 12 floors, 750,000 square feet, and consistently named amongst the largest library buildings in the world. The building itself is a fusion of two well-known architectural styles, Beaux Arts and Mannerist. Another exterior touch was the addition of acroteria(basically think gargoyles, but merely ornamental) to the roof of the building in 1993. When you first enter the building, you walk through a corridor into a large two-story lobby area. From there, you can either go up or go down. If you go down, you find yourself in the basement, by a presentation hall. If you go up, you enter into the libary proper. The interior is pretty average as libraries go for the next six floors, but once you get to the 9th Floor, there is a huge atrium, called the Winter Garden. This area can be rented out for Private Events, and when not being used, it is simply an open area. The special exhibit area of the library is also located on floor #9.
After the long process of building was finally complete in 1991, the place still needed a name. It was at that point that then-Mayor Richard M. Daley suggested that the library be named for former Mayor Harold Washington, who had passed away from a Heart Attack in 1987. This honor recognized Mayor Washington's committment to literacy, as well as his drive to build the new library. This building is a very impressive piece of architecture, a fine library, and a fitting memorial to Harold Washington.
No comments:
Post a Comment