Midtown Carnegie Branch Library

Dake Wells Architecture added a new accessible entrance to Springfield's 1905 Midtown Carnegie Branch Library, replacing a clunky exterior elevator with covered ramps that reach both the lower level and the main floor. The $4.5 million project, half reimbursed through American Rescue Plan Act funding, also replaced the building's HVAC and water systems while preserving the original limestone structure. The branch closed in May 2024 for construction and reopened in June 2025.

The new entrance volume is wrapped in Ludowici terracotta shingles, glazed to match the color of the library's original 1905 roof tile, supplied by the same manufacturer. Set over a glazed base and a board-formed concrete plinth, the addition reads as a clearly contemporary insertion that still speaks the same material language as the historic building it serves.