Lake Forest Library presents potential renovations, upgrades
Lake Forest Library officials are planning the next phase of renovations, focusing on restoring several of the building’s historic rooms before the library’s upcoming centennial.
On November 11, the library held a public presentation outlining plans to modernize rooms originally designed by local architect Edwin Clark as part of the building’s 1931 construction.
“This library is much more than a building; she’s a reflection of the community,” said board member Emily Van Bel.
The proposed renovations include the building’s vestibule, foyer, rotunda, Friends Reading Room, Reference Room and Reference Annex. Executive director Ishwar Laxminarayan said the Reference Room and Friends Reading Room were last renovated in 1995-96.
Architect Alexander Kirkhaar told attendees that the aim of the project is to restore the original “Scandinavian elegance” of the rooms. He and fellow architect Philip Hamp presented a conceptual design that included restored furniture, recreated original features such as Clark-designed ceiling vent covers and chandelier shades, relocated service desks and computer stations to improve accessibility, new paint and flooring, and improved lighting.
“We can create a more balanced architectural whole,” Kirkhaar said of the proposed lighting changes.
Laxminarayan said the total cost of the renovation has not yet been determined, but he expects to receive a preliminary estimate in early 2026. Funding sources are still under discussion, although he said they could include a combination of library reserves, support from the Lake Forest Library Foundation, Friends of the Lake Forest Library and private donations.
The library board is expected to vote on construction contracts in February, according to Laxminarayan. This would lead to construction being able to begin in fall 2026 and be completed by mid-2027. It has not yet been decided whether the affected rooms will remain open during the work.
“We will only have clarity on this after the general contractor is hired,” Laxminarayan said. “Our staff is considering ways to continue providing services to residents during the construction period. »
The restoration of the historic hall is the latest in a series of recent improvements to the library building. In August 2023, repairs were completed on the building’s dome. In 2024, the library completed the restoration of the murals by Russian-born artist Nicolai Remisoff in the rotunda. Most recently, work has begun to upgrade the library’s exterior courtyards, a project expected to be completed by the end of this year or early 2026.
If the historic rooms project moves forward, library officials plan to focus on broader master planning for the rest of the building. Areas identified for future attention include, among others, addressing the library’s parking shortage, expanding ADA accessibility, adding group study spaces, and improving access to portions of the collections.
“We hope these changes will improve adaptive capacity and show this community that we are deeply committed to the preservation and maintenance of this building for the next 100 years,” Laxminarayan said.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance journalist for Pioneer Press.
