A. K. Smiley Library
City of Redlands
Redlands, California

“This library is worth the trip to Redlands from downtown Los Angeles,” according to the book Public Libraries: Travel Treasure of the West. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the original 1898 historic building was expanded to accommodate overcrowded conditions. ARG designed a 33,000-square-foot addition consisting of two new wings and a circulation spine that improve the old building, providing a seamless transition from the old to the new. A conservatory reading room and two outdoor garden areas greatly enhance the pleasant feel of the site. A phased construction plan allowed the building to remain open during the entire expansion process. The project received an award from the California Preservation Foundation and was published in the AIA’s 1997 Historic Facilities Review.

For more information on the Library, visit www.akspl.org.