BRANCHING OUT

摘要

The Chicago Public Library opened its new Chinatown Branch in late August. Replacing a rental space, the 16,370 square foot, two-story facility was created by the firms Wight & Company and Skidmore Owings and Merrill, as the system's first design/build project. The $19.1 million branch, funded through the 24th/Michigan TIF (tax increment financing) District, is constructed of steel and glass and features a "living" roof and native plantings, a central atrium, a large reading room, a digital media space for teens, and an early literacy and learning area. Respecting local culture, the interior follows feng shui design principles of balance and harmony.