The historic Northborough Free Public Library is an early 1900s granite Richardsonian building. Johnson Roberts Associates renovated and restored the original building and added a new section within a challengingly tight linear site. The addition, which more than triples the size of the library, is clad with a pre-cast granite blend and copper bays to complement the original library’s copper trim. The interior features custom library furniture design by Johnson Roberts Associates.
“Now that we’ve been open for a month, I’d like to share with you the many positive comments we’ve been receiving from the public. They can’t believe this library is in Northborough! People love the woodwork, the beautiful windows, and the choices of color, lighting, and materials. Visitors comment on the attention to detail, the logical layout, and the variety of seating options. They talk about how bright the building is. It has exceeded expectations.
I concur. What I think is remarkable is that with the open feel of the building you have retained a human scale and intimacy, which is exactly what I wanted. People are actually staying longer when they visit.
As a librarian, I like the fact that we have excellent sight lines for supervision and good proximity to the areas that we need for daily work. The soundproofing is also quite good.
It’s truly a pleasure to work in this beautiful building. Thank you.”
– Jean M. Langley
Director, Northborough Free Library