Nipissing University Learning Library Receives 2012 Library Interior Design Award

May 01, 2012

May 1, 2012, TORONTO – The Academic Learning Library at Nipissing University/Canadore College has won Best of Category for Academic Libraries over 30,000 SF in the 2012 Library Interior Design Competition. The biennial awards run by the International Interior Design Association and the Library Leadership and Management Association, a division of the American Library Association, honor excellence in library Interior Design, incorporating aesthetics, design creativity, function and satisfaction of the client's objectives. Seven winners and three honorable mentions were selected from projects submitted throughout North America.

The distinguished panel of judges for the competition included: Charles Forrest, Emory University Libraries; Jim Griffo, IIDA, Gresham Smith & Partners; Dr. Susan E. Parker, UCLA Library; Stacy Reed, IIDA, LEED AP, ID+C, Gensler; Dr. Frederick Schlipf, GSLIS, University of Illinois, Urbana; and Felice L. Silverman, IIDA, Silverman Trykowski Associates.

“The overall quality of the submissions was at the highest level,” said Felice Silverman, IIDA. “Each project brought a unique solution to the ever-evolving concept of a library. The designers were faced with new functional and technological challenges, and responded with creativity and innovation.”

Dr. Susan Parker agreed, “These designs delivered fresh, imaginative, and comfortable spaces that have been designed, built, and furnished with a thoughtful understanding of the needs of the libraries’ constituent communities.”

The Best of Competition winner will be announced at the ALA Annual Conference on June 24, 2012 at the Anaheim Convention in California where all winners and their clients will be celebrated. They will also be featured on the IIDA website and published in Contract and American Libraries magazines.