The Boston Public Library’s Special Collections Department contains some of America's most historic documents, including a copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio and original printings of the Declaration of Independence. Finegold Alexander collaborated with library staff and Boston’s Public Facility Department on the Concept Master Plan and the full renovation that ensued. Mechanical system upgrades create stand-alone climate control for the Special Collections Department, a great improvement to protect irreplaceable collections. Other building improvements include the installation of a state-of-the-art fire suppression system throughout, and an enhanced security system. The reconfigured public lobby and reading room now feature climate-controlled display cases, allowing patrons to spend time with and enjoy the historic materials. Taken as a whole, the renovation ensures the long-term preservation of the library’s civic treasures and their continued public access.

(Photo credits: project photos by Raj Das Photography; photo of dedication ceremony and detail photos of display cases and books by Tony Hsiao; photo of Johnson building exterior: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

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