ATHOL — The Athol Public Library got some spotlight last fall when architectural documentarians visited to tell its story of being the first Carnegie library in the country with a renovation earning platinum LEED certification.
Tappé Architects commissioned Joshua and Natsuko Shaffer of Chibi Moku to film a nearly 10-minute video about the history of the library and the renovation and expansion completed a few years ago. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design and platinum is the highest standard there is, according to principal architect Jeffrey M. Hoover. The video, which was released last week and can be viewed at http://bit.ly/2lPnOaB, will be used by Tappé Architects for marketing.
The video highlights the library’s renovated features and Athol’s industrial history. Athol Town Manager Shaun Suhoski mentions how manufacturing plants popped up along the Millers River, which runs through the town, and Mark Wright, executive director of the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce, explains the significance of the L.S. Starrett Company, adjacent to the library. Wright says the Starrett family in the early 1900s donated land and some money to construct the library and the neighboring Town Hall, local YMCA and Starrett Memorial United Methodist Church.
Carnegie libraries were built with money connected to Scottish-American industrialist Andrew Carnegie. In 1916, Athol accepted a $22,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to erect a free public library building.
According to the library’s website, the library was turned over to the town on Aug. 16, 1918. Before that, the town’s book collection had moved from one temporary home to the next. A two-story addition was built onto the rear in 1965. This was torn down so the new expansion could be constructed.
Library Director Jean Shaughnessy told The Recorder that Chibi Moku was granted access to the library during off-hours. Though she wishes the film had shown some loyal patrons, she said is pleased with the work Chibi Moku did.
“I think they captured … how appreciated it is, how well-used it’s been,” she said, adding that she also loves how autumn leaves can be seen on trees in the background throughout the film.
Joshua Shaffer marveled at the community and library trustees’ passion for their library. “I’ve never seen a community that cares so much about sustainability and trying to get to the platinum LEED certification,” he said in a telephone interview from Portugal. “That was just incredible.”
Jeffrey M. Hoover, the renovation project’s principal architect, told The Recorder the library reached out to his Boston-based firm in 2010. Tappé Architects helped library staff apply for a Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners grant. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Oct. 17, 2012, and the new-and-improved library opened to the public on Dec. 30, 2013.
“I continue to be very proud of it. … We’ve done a lot of other things since then, but that one still stands out,” she said. “In term of work we’ve done for renovating historic libraries, that is the pinnacle.”
Hoover said it is remarkable for a historic library to earn a platinum LEED certification.
He also said he is especially proud of the expansion’s modern look and the amount of natural lighting achieved.
“They had been accustomed to driving a VW Bus, and now they have the Starship Enterprise,” he said.
Shaughnessy said she doesn’t tire of people watching into the building and admiring the craftsmanship.
“It’s beautiful. It’s great, it really is. It’s gorgeous to look at,” she said, adding that people visiting family in the area say the library looks like ones likely to be found in large cities. “It’s really impressive. It was a lot of work.”
Shaffer said the renovation work, especially the floor work, to the original Carnegie structure impressed him the most. Tom Mann, of the T.S. Mann Lumber Company, says in the video that the new floor consists of antique yellow pine, also known as heart pine, from vintage timbers from an industrial mill building.
In the video, Hoover says he wanted to highlight an often-ignored natural resource — the Millers River, which runs right behind the library. There is now a parking lot and groomed landscape adjacent to the water. Hoover also said the expansion was designed to complement the Carnegie structure with a modern touch. Library Trustee Dr. Carol Ambrozy says in the film that the library started at 7,000 square feet and grow to more than 20,000 square feet.
“We’re very, very proud of this building,” Ambrozy says, “and I think it was the steppingstone to our town really growing.”
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 258.