An Epically Fun, End-of-Summer Inaugural Event
You don’t need a library card to check out the wonderful new outdoor lawn, garden walk and more at the Wilmette Public Library! On Thursday, August 1st, families gathered in the re-designed space to enjoy the beautiful summer weather, picnic dinners with friends, free Homer’s ice cream (a Wilmette staple!) and family-friendly rock-n-roll from grammy-nominated Ralph Covert and band. Suffice to say two years of hard work on the library’s Outdoor Renovation Project culminated in an epically fun, end-of-summer inaugural event. Teska is honored to have been a part of this project and beyond excited to see their friends at the Wilmette Public Library enjoying their new space.
“We are very excited to host our inaugural event here on the library’s new lawn for all the children who participated in our summer reading program. We look forward to hosting more events, classes and programs in our new space, including many nature-based programs coming up in September and October…” – Andrea Vaughn Johnson, Wilmette Public Library Head of Youth Services | Excerpt, Wilmette Beacon Article // August 6th, 2019
The Community’s Front Yard
Teska’s urban design studio worked with the Library and community via a series of workshops and events to ensure a plan that reflects the Library’s character and commitment to community. The Landscape Committee, which was comprised of members of the Wilmette Public Library Board and Staff, generously volunteered their time and expertise throughout the planning process and worked closely with the Teska Team in creating this space. Committee Design Goals included:
- Reflect the Library’s vibrant identity and programs;
- Support a variety of spaces for individual contemplation and large groups;
- Promote durability and sustainability; and
- Welcome the community to an inclusive and visually compelling environment.
Key themes of the plan included an enhanced front entry, a central open lawn to support events and performances, a garden walk with native plantings and interpretive signage, and parking lot and alleyway improvements.
“When designing the new outdoor space, we set out to create a safe, attractive, open and sustainable environment, for the entire community to enjoy. We aim to be the community’s front yard. We want the library — both inside and out — to be a place where patrons can learn and be entertained…” – Anthony Auston, Wilmette Public Library Director | Excerpt, Wilmette Beacon Article // August 6th, 2019
To continue the Library’s dedication to sustainability via a permeable parking lot and geothermal system, the landscape plan incorporates additional sustainable features, including an all native plant list, experimental “no-mow” lawn area, LED lighting and snowmelt system. Other features include custom entry signs, educational botanical markers, benches, seating pebbles, and bluestone paving. Innovative, flexible seating is important to support the Library’s many events and frequent educational programs.
Thank you to our project partners, Gewalt Hamilton Associates (Civil Engineers) and Shales McNutt Construction (Construction Manager), the Wilmette community, Public Library and Library Board for providing the opportunity to transform such an important space. We can’t wait to see how the Library continues to use their new space to teach ecology and inspire learning for all ages.
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For more information about the project, head over to the Wilmette Public Library’s project page or check out the Landscape Master Plan.
Source(s): Wilmette Beacon Article // August 6th, 2019