The Concord Free Public Library said that the Fowler Library has received the Association of General Contractor's (AGC) Merit Award from the Build New England Award Program. C.E. Floyd Company, the builders, and Johnson Roberts Associates, the architects, delivered an award-winning historic restoration and addition project for the Concord Free Public Library Fowler Branch. More space was needed to enhance the program offerings, increase study areas and capacity for books and new technology. The new addition includes a dedicated children's room, a community meeting space in the lower level and a 40% increase in the space for books.
The project team received the Merit Award at the Build New England Awards gala which is sponsored by the Association of General Contractors (AGC) and Banker & Tradesman.
Specific exceptional elements of the project included: the team approach to solving problems and developing unique solutions, the level of quality and detail in planning and execution on the part of all team members and the end result of a transformed space that meets today's community requirements while retaining the look and feel of the historic library. The renovation project included sensitive historic restoration work such as restoring existing millwork, ornamental plaster, and historic windows. The project team researched the original cupola finish in the library archives and found that the cupola was originally gold leaf, not painted as was the existing condition. The original main entrance was relocated to accommodate accessibility requirements and reinstalled to match the historic detailing.
All new spaces were finished to provide a connection to the historic look and feel of the original building. A new connecting stair was added with a wall of windows to introduce natural light to the study areas and stacks in the new finished lower level. With the renovations complete, it is difficult to distinguish the historic spaces from the new additions.