Time has taken its toll on this 1918 gem, the last public library in Allegheny County built by Andrew Carnegie. It remains a much-loved community asset, but with a laundry list of exterior maintenance needs, a wish list of interior upgrades, and a mandate to make it accessible to all.

In stakeholder meetings with the public, staff, administration, and the library’s CM and grant-writing partners, we developed a menu of prioritized improvements. Addressing the building’s exterior rose to the top of the list to avert further damage and give this gem a proper setting.

The Phase One exterior improvements, now underway, include site and envelope interventions to resolve outdoor accessibility, repair leaks and degradation, give the building a good scrub, and introduce new lighting. Phase Two, on the horizon, will address all manner of interior improvements, including the addition of a new elevator.

This phasing strategy achieves two major objectives: first, to minimize the length of time the library needs to be closed, and second, to both follow and attract grant funding for these improvements.