Phillips Memorial Library Providence College

Designed by Kenneth DeMay of Sasaki Associates and completed in 1969, the Phillips Memorial Library was a typical academic building of its day, with exposed brick walls and waffle-slab concrete ceilings. By the time our firm was enlisted to refurbish the interior, the original furnishings and finishes were decidedly tired. The college had become co-educational, leading to an acute shortage of women’s lavatories, and accessibility and telecommunications improvements were long overdue.

Our mission was twofold: to bring the library functionally up to date and to improve the ambiance of its brick-and-concrete interiors. To soften the austerity of the original interiors, we turned to the earliest Modern style—Arts and Crafts. This aesthetic can be seen in the furniture and lighting fixtures, the geometric-patterned carpets, and the custom oak partitions that enclose private offices and group study rooms. Our modifications also included new shelving and lounge areas, with a color palette that complements both the original brick and the new woodwork. Carried out in phases over a decade, the renovation has been a success both functionally and aesthetically