Woburn Public Library Expansion “Ideas” Competition Woburn, Massachusetts

The original Woburn Public Library was designed by H. H Richardson in 1877 as a free public library for the community of Woburn Massachusetts. The library is seeking a substantial addition of space for public reading rooms, lecture space and administrative functions as well as rehabilitation of the original building and a better connection to the surrounding town and park. As a first step the Library Board sponsored an “ideas” competition for which Kaplan Chen Kaplan won second prize from over 100 entries submitted worldwide. The scheme was cited for its relationship to the historic building, the creation of outdoor space and links to adjacent activities.