Projects

Hillsdale Community Public Library, Hillsdale County, MI

The Hillsdale Community Public Library is located  between residential neighborhoods and the central business district in Hillsdale, Michigan. The original library facility was constructed as a private residence for the Mitchell Family (Circa 1869) and was bequeathed to the community of Hillsdale by the Mitchell family.

The library’s conversion from a residence was based on plans prior to 1907 and the library was dedicated in 1908. The City of Hillsdale is a community with strong historic ties to the state of Michigan and the structures constructed in and around the community have significant historic value.

The programmatic concerns that were addressed included:

• The existing facility lacked accessibility between floors.
• The building program must address on site parking and handicapped accessibility.
• Allow for the collection to grow with a 20 year projection.
• A multi-level configuration causes visual control/observation problems for a small library staff.
• Maintain the historic nature of the residence while modifying the existing facility to meet the codes of a historic district.
• Update the mechanical system with zoning and humidity controls for documents subject to deterioration.
• Consider/protect the largest female ginkgo tree in the midwest of the United States.

Prior to the turn of the millennium, the library board purchased a vacant 1960’s vintage, 17,000 square foot structure adjacent to the library. The building was a full service car dealership and divided into a showroom, a vehicle repair garage, a paint and alignment area, a parts department, office area and receiving area.

The Board felt that the dealership’s structure was sound and the building should be remodeled/renovated. The floor plan was based on a two- phase construction process. The first phase of the project was the alteration of the dealership building. The second phase was the historic restoration of the residence to 1908 condition.

The first phase is completed. Programmatic concerns were solved as follows:

• The service area’s high ceiling easily transformed into an adult reading/stack area.
• The paint shop (with lower ceiling) provided the area and scale necessary for a children’s reading/stack area.
• The showroom transformed into a large rentable community meeting room.
• The main entry sequence was based on an axial promenade, structured to create a link between the new structure and the residence.
• The layout directs children and young adults to their respective areas without noise or confusion and is
• located so that cross visual control is maintained.
• The connection space between the building incorporates an elevator so that future access to all floors of the residence will be possible.
• Exterior historic continuity has been achieved by repetition of historic details, rhythms and relationships using currently available materials.
• The Ginko tree was unharmed and the project is complete!

The current facility meets the Library Board’s desire to provide quality services and the building is a manifestation of both the past and the future together within the built environment.