Arcturis says Carlyle library project combines modern design with historic touches
Left, the new Case-Halstead Public Library in Carlyle.
CARLYLE – Arcturis, a St. Louis-based firm, recently saw completion of the Case-Halstead Public Library in Carlyle. The firm provided planning, architecture and interior design services to the project.
The finished building is 10,000 square feet and was designed to expand the services of the library. It includes a creative use space for children, a fireplace that can be seen from nearly anywhere in the building, an expanded young adult section, and a Heritage Room where historic artifacts are displayed.
“It is very special to find a library like Case-Halstead in a town the size of Carlyle. We worked together for nearly 10 years to raise funds for the project and make sure every item on their wish list could be included. The facility is something that the entire region can be proud of,” said Arcturis Principal Megan Ridgeway.
Arcturis assisted the library in their efforts to secure a Public Library Construction Act Grant from the State of Illinois. A $1.6 million check was presented to the board in 2013 by Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White.
“Through the grant program the people of Carlyle and the surrounding area will be well-served by this wonderful library for decades to come,” said Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.
The original Case-Halstead Library was built in 1938 on property donated to the City of Carlyle by Eckstein Case, a philanthropist from Cleveland, OH, who had grown up in Carlyle. The older building was a point of pride for the community but needed to be updated to improve functionality.
Arcturis met with the library board to establish the scope and scale of the project, and then artfully combined the client’s taste for neo-classical architecture, state-of-the-art technology, and the latest in library design. The completed space also eases the work of Case-Halstead’s small staff by orienting stacks, reading nooks and study areas so that all are visible from one central circulation desk.
The Arcturis team also helped the library board honor one of itsr most beloved patrons with the Maddux Community Room, a public space funded through the Flora Ethel Maddux Trust. The community room can accommodate up to 200 people and has an outdoor space for large gatherings. Maddux was an educator at Carlyle High School and a life-long patron of the library.
“We look forward to seeing all the ways this new library will be used and enjoyed by the community,” said Ridgeway.
About Arcturis
Arcturis is a national design firm based in St. Louis that specializes in planning, architecture, interior design, graphic design, and workspace optimization. Founded in 1977, it is a women-owned business that currently employs 50 people.
