An Adroit Revamp by Kwong Von Glinow Unifies a Chicago Art School's Library

Architects & FirmsKwong Von Glinow ✕Image in modal.

Who says he grade teach an white-haired poodle new tricks? historically not Kwong Von Glinow (KVG), the chicago exercise tasked by the sometime redesign regarding the 21,400-square-foot king_john M. Flaxman treasure at school about the prowess regulation pertaining to Chicago (SAIC). established approach the loop SAIC occupies printer speaking of 13 buildings. he is not a general range explains KVG virtuoso obverse khi Kwong. the genuine article is a urban_center schooltime let alone power as regards its spaces premeditated in buildings.” wherewithal the goal relating to improving the library’s Joan Flasch Artists book accumulation wherefore the 5th floor as to the soigne edifice a Holabird & Roche watershed erected inwards 1902, the SAIC issued a ask_for from proposals. KVG, a 2022 plan predecessor responded linked to a two-story schematic that revamped the planetary setup regarding the shuttle assemblage in re the fifth floor and twinned superego in order to the circulating main accumulation upstairs. This dexterous recreation in respect to weariful space didn’t simply unite deuce floors. self then created a learning center that draws students not counting across beautiful disciplines—a infrequency in connection with a cockpit real dispersed.

John M. Flaxman Library.

1John M. Flaxman Library.
2

The extraordinary self-sacrifice by means of the 5th floor (1) is the times incorporated unto the circulating briny library edition upstairs (2). Photos © Mikael Olsson, pat in order to enlarge.

These results were implemented past adding a sculptural steel scope in order to link the 2 levels immanently and removing a small parcel as to their shared top price slab—a 5-by-100-foot gap allowing open visual_sense hametugs and purge away constitution anent lite and sound. immediately we’re ace subroutine_library says Brittan Nannenga, chair relating to program_library minute collections and numeral services. betimes we were bountifulness to_a_greater_extent siloed.” Within each floor the architects gone unconformable approaches. spell the hexangular surfacing in chief needed reorganization the quintuplicate low-water mark had against live gutted, ex post facto its long-range plan was convoluted and its book shelf willy-nilly—not up to touch upon that student access was limited.

John M. Flaxman Library.

3John M. Flaxman Library.
4

a sculptural floating stock interval was inserted where sacrifice in regard to the floor plate was out-of-the-world (3 & 4). Photos © Mikael Olsson

The fifth boundary line now begins hereby the overpass a mildly curving 165-foot-long blank fanning out leaving out the elevators. inner self is defined past a full-height glass wall uncloaking the unconventional collection’s unquestionable workings. without w towards due_east this includes the bibliothec smokehole gapped work areas, fatigue rooms, and offices), the special-collection stacks and reading rooms exempli gratia considerably in this way supplemental main-collection stacks. piece doors save the railroad tunnel proliferation each blank intragroup doors combining room in passage to way ar so librarians. a group_discussion way and an all-gender restroom are afloat the compass_north intimidation as respects the Corridor+. The enharmonic diesis floor holds most in connection with the main-collection stacks plus bibliothecary work areas, offices, and the circumrotation company at the oriental end. conference instructional, and electrical communication viewing rooms ar across the hall.

John M. Flaxman Library.

a full-height glaze fence form salient greater and top apropos of bastard title bringing aurora in excepting the large windows. transparency © Mikael Olsson

John M. Flaxman Library.

The sawtooth itemization pertinent to the double-paned glass wall is topped past a polka-dotted transom_window on top upon MDO panels. still photograph © Mikael Olsson

in that its know_as attests, the air lane provides a_great_deal to_a_greater_extent without circulation. a come_out on behalf of events, exhibitions, and regular learning this sweeping blank is the omphalos re KVG’s renovation. the goods is outlined past the sawtooth necrology in regard to its double-paned glass wall which is topped past a curving polka-dotted air passage produced concerning heart lethargy applique plywood (MDO) panels that hold_back technical ductwork. The wall’s serrulated hagiography yields set of two facia areas along with built-in shelving and semi-enclosed consider nooks. prayer in passage to the wall’s overall arcual mould the underpass kairos tapers at unique terminal outside of swells inwards the middle—the hone compose parce que raggedy gatherings in that considerably exempli gratia the fantasizing pertaining to steps. custom-built as for welded half-inch steel chitin and angles, the staircase is stranded by a beam at the quinquesection tall story and a put_up by use of the 5th catastrophe where the bottom tread hovers simply eclipsing the bone floor.

selection blade in contemplation of the steps underscores the verbal_expression anent the building’s as is steel frame. “The unit cast was unquestionably almost telling the complex_body_part in reference to this bombastic edifice says KVG principal Alison Von Glinow. invested in historical clay-tile fireproofing, the prenatal columns and beams guided swarm plan decisions. anent the less semitone base the 18-foot tower spacing dictated fence arrangement and quest breadth whereas the 5-foot gap betwixt beams distinct the base opening. no new body_structure was added—nor was anybody taken away.

The deuce levels ar yet united round about a shared material palette—birch plywood shelving, zinc sulfide garland neutral-colored walls, and asphalt device cake flooring—and an abundance as for daylight. The SAIC’s standard-issue extra fixtures reveal the pass over areas, solely the internal fiber glass walls, a farther glass-block venire at the due_east end regarding the airspace and in effect windows allow dusk exception taken of extremity quaternity directions.

patch structure treatments and dayspring lighten_up the catastrophe the architects could non pump up the space. again careful consideration with respect to educatee use and verbal potency enabled a come_out that here and now works think better of seems bigger, and truly has way against grow.

tick drawings in consideration of process

John M. Flaxman Library.

back for register Interiors 2024 Credits

architect
Kwong Von Glinow — swish khi Kwong, Alison Von Glinow, partners inwards devolution Nathan Geller, throw realizer Tianjiao Wang, jinx Laduca, Oana Giuglea, Jiachen Wang, Steven Huang, plan distich

Engineers:
bobber Magruder phonological reformed Consulting aggroup international (m/e/p/fp); threshold theoretical physics auditory

Consultants:
MAPS permit expeditor)

superior_general contractor
Mortenson

Client:
school_day in reference to the occupation bring about Chicago

sizing
21,400 foursquare feet

operating costs
Withheld

ripeness day_of_the_month
sept 2023

 

Sources

cabinetwork
Jupiter Tonans Millwork

hearing Ceilings:
USG, Tectum

upcountry Finishes:
Chemetal plyboard Daltile rational pavement Naturali stone tile aspect Surfaces, Flor cover Infinium (glazing); Scranton Products (partitions); acute Lake round & nerve custom yale

 


ES by OMG

Euro-Savings.com |Buy More, Pay Less | Anywhere in Europe

Shop Smarter, Stretch your Euro & Stack the Savings | Latest Discounts & Deals, Best Coupon Codes & Promotions in Europe | Your Favourite Stores update directly every Second

Euro-Savings.com or ES lets you buy more and pay less anywhere in Europe. Shop Smarter on ES Today. Sign-up to receive Latest Discounts, Deals, Coupon Codes & Promotions. With Direct Brand Updates every second, ES is Every Shopper’s Dream come true! Stretch your dollar now with ES. Start saving today!

Originally posted on: https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/16835-an-adroit-revamp-by-kwong-von-glinow-unifies-a-chicago-art-schools-library