BDCuniversity.com | BUILDING DESIGN+CONSTRUCTION | 47Milwaukee Public Library, created from the for-
mer Hills Department Store originally built in
1919, is a shining example of the library design
direction many municipalities are champing at
the bit to head in.
The library, which occupies 23,000 sf across
the ground level, mezzanine, and lower level of
the renovated building, isn’t interested in the
stereotypical musty spaces filled with librarians
who’s glasses are perched precariously on the
tips of their noses. Instead of a maze of domi-
neering stacks filled with suppressive shush-
ers, the Mitchell Street library provides bright,
open spaces capable of hosting events like,
say, a Mexican-style professional wrestling show
dubbed “Crush the Shush.”
In addition to quarreling luchadores, the
Mitchell Street library also includes amenities
such as a maker space with tech lockers, a
graphics workstation, a 3D printer, and audio
mixing equipment; a recording booth; and a
kitchen for demonstrations on healthy cooking
and eating.
A highly visible storefront display area con-
nects people on the street to the activities
occurring within and design details such as
restored historic elements and roll-up doors
painted by local youth artists combine to create
a bright, transparent interior that forgoes the
typical library aesthetic.
At left: Macalester College’s new Theater, Dance, and
Classroom building in St. Paul, Minn., designed by
HGA, includes a fl exible performance space that allows
for different seating and performance confi gurations.
At right: The HGA-designed Mitchell Street Branch of
the Milwaukee Public Library was created from the
former Hills Department Store originally built in 1919.
‘BAD LIBRARIES BUILD
COLLECTIONS, GOOD LIBRARIES
BUILD SERVICES, GREAT
LIBRARIES BUILD COMMUNITIES.’
— R. DAVID LANKES, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
OF INFORMATION STUDIES
COURTESY HGA