For Immediate Release: July 18, 2008
HGA Wins National Interior Design Award for Ramsey County Library-Maplewood
Minneapolis, MN - HGA Architects and Engineers (HGA) has won a national Library Interior Design Award for the Ramsey County Library-Maplewood from the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA)/International Interior Design Association (IIDA). Adjacent to a public park and wetlands, the full-service branch library in north-suburban St. Paul, Minnesota, was recognized for design excellence and creativity in the Public Libraries over 30,000 square feet category in the biennial awards program.
Composed of two rectangular forms set horizontally on the site, the 31,000-square-foot Ramsey County Library-Maplewood includes an extended entry canopy that welcomes patrons into an engaging interior focused on a central lobby and reading porch overlooking the Maplewood Sculpture Garden.
The interior offers a series of functional and delightful spaces enlivened with a colorful palette of materials, from intimate reading rooms to the soaring central stacks-and even a full-service restaurant. Interior graphics, materials and colors further convey a unique sense of place reflective of Maplewood itself. The design team integrated the city's signature maple-leaf design and maple seedpod throughout the library as easy-to-follow graphics that become alphabet letters in the children's area, where a seedpod sculpture hangs overhead. In addition, HGA selected a palette of natural muted colors to reflect the natural setting. Maple-leaf red tones and stained-wood panels, for instance, carry the building's exterior colors inside along the circulation spine.
HGA worked with library staff and Ramsey County to refine interior functional relationships, sight lines, safety and security concerns, and staff efficiencies. The "ask a librarian" and service desks define the main circulation spine to offer the library staff clear sight lines into the collection area. The staff workrooms are open and flexible to support an effective flow of materials. Automated sorting equipment reduces repetitive tasks and improves ergonomics, allowing staff more time to personally assist patrons.
"Within the Ramsey County Library System, everybody wants another Maplewood because of the library's welcoming design, how well it fits into its natural setting and how comfortable it is," says Jane Dedering, IIDA, Library Planner and Senior Interior Designer with HGA. "The Library has also become the living room for the community because of its easy access to reading materials, fireplace and artwork, comfy chairs, and views to the trees and wetlands outside."
In addition to the national LAMA/IIDA Library Interior Design Award, Ramsey County Library-Maplewood won an AIA Minnesota Honor Award for Architecture, and an IIDA Wisconsin Chapter Best of Competition Interior Design Award.
The jurors included Drew Harrington, Director of Library Services at University of Portland; Steven McCollom, IIDA, AIA Associate Partner, Gary Lee Partners, San Francisco; Kathryn Page, Principal with Page and Moris, San Francisco; and Joseph Rondinelli, Associate IIDA, Senior Associate, Shepley Bulfinch, Boston. Jennifer Busch, Editorial Director of Contract magazine, served as judging facilitator.
LAMA, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is dedicated to the promotion of library leadership. IIDA is a professional interior design association with 13,000 members worldwide.
:: View Ramsey County Library - Maplewood
HGA Contact: Julie Luers (612) 758-4000 e-mail JLuers@hga.com
Media Contact: Susan Evans, Evans Larson (612) 338-6999 e-mail susan@evanslarson.com