When the Village of Algonquin asked BCA to design their new Village Hall, we used the architecture of their original turn-of-the-century Village Hall as a design inspiration (see the Algonquin Village Hall under BCA Municipal projects). We utilized a similar design vocabulary for the new main library for the Algonquin Area Library District. These two new public buildings are helping to define the standard for civic architecture in this growing community.

BCA is making extensive use of natural day lighting to animate the interior spaces of this library. At the same time, the window placement controls the natural light to ensure that the library's collection is protected and that the daylight does not interfere with computer monitors and other electronic displays. Modern networking, data and phone systems are completely integrated into the library.

The library's interior uses an open plan that effectively minimizes staffing levels by direct lines-of-sight from staffed positions to most areas of the library. Furniture placement was planned to preserve as many of these sight lines as possible.

This 36,000 s.f. library was completed in the fall of 2001 and is designed to be expandable to meet the Library District's 20 year service goals.

Main Entry

BCA retained area artist Lisa Dapas to paint a trompe l'oeil sky for the domed entry to the childrens' library. Fiber optic lighting periodically changes color, thus altering the "mood" of the sky scene. In this photo, Lisa is applying the finishing touches to her artwork.

The children's program area behind the library.


Bright colors and interesting views to an exterior children's program area animate the Children's Library