Taylor Street Apartments and Little Italy Branch Library has been awarded the AIA/ALA Library Building Award. The Library Building Award is presented as a partnership between American Institute of Architects and American Library Association to honor the best in library architecture and design. It is the only award of its kind to recognize entire library structures and all aspects of their design.
Working with the City of Chicago, SOM designed one of the city’s first co-located Chicago Housing Authority and Public Library branches. The development includes a one-story public library branch and a multi-story mixed-income residential complex, with additional community spaces at street level. The synergy between the two serves as a new hub for the neighborhood. Situated on the corner of West Taylor and Ada streets on the city’s West Side, the new facility synergizes its two unique programs and serves as a critical hub for the surrounding community.