The AIA Huron Valley Chapter in Ann Arbor, Mich. recognized Quinn Evans' design excellence with three honor awards at their 2023 awards ceremony. The AIA Portland Jury selected the new Clinton-Macomb Public Library North Branch and the renovated and expanded Glen Lake Community Library for building awards. The Detroit Central Market received the historic preservation award.
The addition and renovation of the Glen Lake Community Library invites locals and vacationers to engage in this northern lake side downtown. Quinn Evans designed the 5,880 sf library to adapt to the dramatic changes in season, pulling patrons outside in the warmer months and providing space for community gathering in the winter. “Drawing visitors in with its lantern-like quality the community facing façade so successfully blends the character of public and residential,” was included in the jurors’ remarks. Light, both natural and artificial, is modulated to enhance the local experience of the library and transform the visitor experience over the course of a day to night and over the change of seasons. With high ceilings, study tables, and a fireplace reading area, the addition houses the adult collection. The new entry connects adults to the renovated building, which now has space for gathering, working, playing, and reading.
Focused on community connection and access to services, Quinn Evans designed the 28,000 sf Clinton-Macomb Public Library, North Branch to respond to local requirements for turn-of-the-20th-century architecture. The distinctive copper dome gives the single-story library equal presence next to the larger public buildings facing the township green. “The palate of materials and the variation of scale for interior spaces is successful and gives the impression of a calm quality that will promote reflection and study,” said the jurors in their remarks. The site design limits impact on wetlands while strengthening connections between indoor and outdoor spaces. Additionally, the main public area is on a raised access floor to emphasize resilience and adaptability. The library uses geothermal mechanical systems and has a large generator that allows it to serve as a community shelter. Clinton-Macomb was recently featured in American Libraries’ 2022 Library Design Showcase.
The Detroit Central Market has been revitalized through the meticulous reconstruction and preservation design executed by Quinn Evans. Originally constructed in 1860 in downtown Detroit, the Market was rebuilt in 2020 at Greenfield Village using original cast iron columns, timber framing, and replicated wood and metal detailing. Quinn Evans provided professional services to assist with the reconstruction efforts for what may be America’s oldest surviving cast iron and wood timbered farmers market. The 8,800 sf structure is publicly presented as a multi-use facility and program venue, joining the more than 80 historic structures located in Henry Ford’s Greenfield Village. “This is one of the best examples of blending old and new in a clear way that allows the original structure to retain its story and still function perfectly for the current times,” said the jurors in their remarks.
Quinn Evans is ranked #4 in Public Libraries in the “2021 Giants 400 Report” compiled by Building Design + Construction magazine and is an industry leader in the preservation of historic structures. The firm continues to expand through new staff and projects, covering a wide range of specialty areas in the planning, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and historic preservation professions.
