SLPL Central Library

Renewal Underway : H 43

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:13:46 -0600

On February 17th, 2012, masons take advantage of the warm weather to work on the enormous terraces that surround Central Library. The complex patterns of limestone and brick designed by Cass Gilbert are being recreated over modern drainage systems and lighting installations. Here the work on the southeast terrace is nearing completion, and the half-circle pattern in front of the west Lion's Fountain is finished.

Renewal Underway : H 42

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:48:26 -0600

Every aspect of construction has brought unique situations. Here, on one of the newly built glass bridges across the courtyard of Central Library, the Gateway Foundation is providing a series of sculptures to welcome children to the new Children's Library. Known around the world as "Jelly Babies," the sculptures by Mauro Perucchetti are made of cast resin and very heavy. BSI Constructor's foreman has brought the sculptures out of storage and carried them into the building several times so that placement, lighting, and structural issues related to their installation could be addressed. All of the Jelly Babies have been moved back into storage to await permanent installation just before the public opening.

Renewal Underway : H41

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:37:42 -0600

This photograph, taken early in January, 2012, shows the Fine Arts ceiling nearing completion. If you look closely at the nearest enormous round medallion that has been recreated, you will see that the detailed painting is only partially complete. As of mid-February, the unique ceilings in each of the five enormous main rooms of the main floor have been restored. The vaulted and delicately painted ceiling of the Olive Street entry is being studied by restoration experts to determine the best method of restoring its complex figures and colors.

Renewal Underway : H40

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:30:13 -0600

On the main floor, months of work have gone into repairing and restoring the magnificent ceilings, originally designed by Gilbert to represent or re-create several different Renaissance buildings, including Michelangelo's Laurentian Library. Here in the Fine Arts Room artists and plaster craftsmen have recreated and set in place the portions of the ceiling removed decades ago. In this photograph an artist is working 30 feet overhead to recreate the original ceiling finishes using a variety of paints and small brushes.

Renewal Underway : H 39

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:02:32 -0600

Because of the expense of recreating the elaborate original design, built of limestone and an unusual handmade brick, the Library examined a number of options for replacing the terraces, including simplifying and removing them altogether. Because of very aggressive bidding, and because the terraces are such an important part of the design and civic environment, the Library decided to restore them. The elaborate brick pattern was simplified in a few small details to allow us to use a standard brick size, saving an enormous amount over custom-making a duplicate of the original brick. But you can see the architects and masons are taking great care to restore this beautiful and important feature.

Renewal Underway : H 38

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:50:16 -0600

During October a great deal of masonry work is taking place on the terraces surrounding Central Library. These very extensive and elaborate areas were an important feature of Gilbert's design: an interpretation of the great public plazas featured on many important Renaissance buildings. In recent years the Library has used them for concerts, programs, and events, and patrons find them enjoyable places to meet friends or sit and read. The original masonry had deteriorated badly over the years, and a great deal of work had to take place underneath: exposing and waterproofing walls; extensive new plumbing and electrical installations; a massive new utility vault hidden underground.

Renewal Underway : H37

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:03:34 -0600

Inside, workers spread and level the new concrete. While much of the collection once hidden in the stack tower will be moved into new spaces created for patrons throughout Central Library, some collections must have special protection. This stack tower space is at the level of the third main floor of Central Library - the top of the grand stair - where enormous new Genealogy, St. Louis History, and Special Collections rooms are being created. Rare books and genealogy materials will have special storage areas at this level, protected from damaging light and other threats. In the foreground of the floor you can see the rails for the compact shelving being sunk into the concrete. Far in the background the topmost opening for the atrium ceiling can be seen, partially blocked by scaffolding.

Renewal Underway : H 36

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:45:20 -0600

On August 12th, concrete trucks line up to offload into the concrete pump feeding the pour of the top floors.

Renewal Underway : H 35

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:45:16 -0600

Since for now the interior spaces are largely full of construction scaffolding, it is easier to understand the scale of the new windows and views from the exterior. Here, in a picture taken on August 12th, the original windows have been removed from the huge window openings Gilbert created to light the seven floors of bookcases hidden behind. Replaced with clear glass, anyone in the park or surrounding streets will be able to see through to the multiple floors of activity taking place on the cantilevered 'balconies' within. Inside, patrons in the new computer areas, training rooms, browsing areas, and additional spaces will be looking out through these huge windows for the first time.

Renewal Underway : H 34

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:05:18 -0600

Here, in a picture taken on August 1st, you are inside the original stack tower looking northeast. Since originally this was closed staff space, not meant to be seen by the public, all of the windows in this wing were made with frosted glass. Here the 100-year-old windows have been removed to be replaced with new energy-efficient ones. These enormous openings, practically an early form of curtain wall construction, stretch almost the entire height of the building. Patrons using the new, cantilevered spaces within the stack tower will look out onto beautiful views of the park and surrounding city through a block-long wall of glass designed by Gilbert in 1912.

Renewal Underway : H 33

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:48:50 -0600

Here, in a picture taken on August 1st, you are looking west into the courtyard from the top floor of Central Library. The new steel structure below will be the roof of the new courtyard construction. There will be three stories of new rooms and spaces below this roof. To your left are the massive, arched windows of the Great Hall which will continue to receive full morning and evening sun as they always have, and on the right are the window openings of the stack tower. The eight massive columns that jut slightly above the roof level surround shafts for the new elevators, which will take patrons from the new Atrium to the Theater/Auditorium level or to the Great Hall level.

Renewal Underway : H 32

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:41:38 -0600

In July a large crane was assembled on Locust Street to lift steel over the roof of Central Library into the courtyard. This steel is being assembled to build new structure for elevators, service spaces, work areas, and restrooms for each public floor. All of the 1912 structures originally built in the courtyard space (which the staff always referred to as "bridges" since they crossed open air) have been removed for this replacement. The only exceptions are the two beautiful bridges that cross the courtyard between the Great Hall and two of the main rooms on the second floor, which will be carefully restored.

This, along with the reconstruction in the original stack tower, is some of the most complex work in the project, which BSI Constructors refers to as 'building a ship in a bottle.' Except here the workers operating the crane can't even see the area where they must delicately place these massive pieces of steel.

Renewal Underway : H 31

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:37:26 -0600

The eight chandeliers will be reassembled and completely rewired to support new, energy-efficient light sources that still closely resemble the original 1912 bulbs. LED light sources are being concealed in the tops of the chandeliers to light the gilt and deep colors of the Great Hall ceiling.

Renewal Underway : H 30

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:28:03 -0600

While major construction work is going on inside the building, some elements of the restoration are taking place elsewhere. Here disassembled pieces of the massive Great Hall chandeliers are being restored at the St. Louis Antique Lighting company. They have been taken entirely apart, and each piece cleaned, polished, and coated with a protective lacquer. The chandeliers, chosen specifically by Gilbert, are made of bronze with an unusually high percentage of copper, giving them their distinctive reddish hue.

Renewal Underway : H29

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:02:39 -0600

This rendering shows the new Locust Street entrance from more or less the same position as the last construction photograph (number 28.) The foundations for the columns supporting the massive but subtle canopy show clearly in the last photograph, as does the foundation for the curved wall surrounding the reflecting pool drawn here. This curved wall was actually part of Gilbert's original design, and has been kept in place in the renovation out of respect for the building and its original architect.

Renewal Underway : H28

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:51:33 -0600

Taken on June 29, this photograph looks west across the original stack tower wing at the back of the building facing Locust Street. Here are the foundations for the new Locust Street entrance, opening into the new Atrium. The rectangular foundations for the new stainless steel canopy show at the center of the photograph, as does the curved wall of the reflecting pool it will float upon. Compare this photograph with the following rendering of what the new entrance will look like from almost the same angle. Other than the careful restoration and lighting of the historic west, south , and east facades, this will be the only visible change to Central Library from the outside.

Renewal Underway : H27

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:20:26 -0600

On a rare sunny day at the end of June, workers high atop the building have removed the original skylight above the 3rd floor gallery (covered for decades) to be replaced with a new one. St. Louis' remarkable architectural heritage is hinted at in this photograph, with the gothic tracery of the tower of Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral soaring above the Italian tile roof of Central Library, and just to the left of the tower the beginning of the curve of the Shell Building's massive art deco facade, while to its right is a glimpse of the 400 room Jefferson Hotel, which opened in 1904 to welcome visitors to the World's Fair. The photographs documenting the construction of Central Library also show the tower being added to the 1859 Cathedral from 1910 - 1912.

Renewal Underway : H26

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:49:28 -0600

Here is one of the new bridges built across what was originally open courtyard space. This photograph, taken on June 29, is looking into the main Children's Library from the new Center for the Reader, built out of former staff workspace. The new bridges will allow you to walk from the new Atrium directly into the center of the building, one floor beneath the Great Hall, and head in any compass direction towards new children's or teen's rooms, or into the exciting new experimental technology space called the Creative Experience, or perhaps into the Studio - a massive collection of recorded music, movies, and other media. One of the original windows has been enlarged into a welcoming doorway. The bridge will be walled with glass, allowing you to look out into the fascinating courtyard architecture for the first time since the building opened. This ground floor will be full of new materials, with massive rooms designed to be sleek and light - a contrast to the beautiful, classical rooms on the main floor.

Renewal Underway : H25

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:13:23 -0600

This photograph was taken in mid-June in the courtyard - an area and view always screened from the public. To the right is the wall of the structure that houses the Great Hall, and ahead is the wall of the original stack tower. The steel frame being erected will occupy that space, and contain high-speed elevators connecting all the floors as well as new restrooms on each floor. Enough space is left in the new structure to create new conference rooms for small meetings and a kitchen for the new cafe. For the first time, the public will have views of this complex, hidden courtyard space from new glass bridges connecting the first-floor rooms.

Renewal Underway : H24

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:53:26 -0600

On June 16th the three main flights of stairs on the Olive Street entrance have been restored using a combination of the original stone and new pieces brought from Mt. Waldo, Maine. The supporting structure under the massive staircase has been entirely replaced. The terrace between the first and second flight has been left unfinished so that construction equipment can continue to be moved back and forth - the original, complex stone pattern will be recreated.

The workers continue installing the massive copper gutters above the second-story cornice. On the flat roof connecting the main building and the Great Hall, rows of new, energy-efficient HVAC equipment have been installed. This is a state-of-the-art high output version of a heat pump system that will both heat and cool much of Central Library using far less energy than the system it replaces. From this height you can see an interesting original design feature: Gilbert specified that Central Library be roofed in hand-made green Italian tile on the visible slopes, and slate on the courtyard side, where it is invisible from the street.