IIDA and the American Library Association (ALA) are pleased to honor Tabanlioglu Architects as the Best of Competition winner of the 2018 Library Interior Design Awards for the restoration of the Beyazit State Library in Istanbul, Turkey. The biennial Library Interior Design Awards recognize international excellence in library design, aesthetics, creativity, and function.
“For centuries, libraries have served as the homes for our history, preserving the past while helping us to prepare for the future,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA. “Simple, elegant, and authentic, the restoration of the Beyazit State Library seamlessly melds historic with contemporary, striking a balance between old and new.”
Entries were judged by a jury of design professionals, including Stasia Czech Suleiman, IIDA, NCIDQ, vice president and senior project interior designer, HOK; Jessica N. Kayongo, J.D., M.A., sociology librarian, Hesburgh Libraries, University of Notre Dame; Jeannette Lenear Peruchini, IIDA, associate director and interior practice leader, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP; and Mindy Sorg, IIDA, NCIDQ, RID, associate and senior interior designer, OPN Architects.
“The glass roof over the church at the Beyazit State Library is fascinating and unique,” said Sorg, on behalf of the jury. “The reading room boasts beautiful ceilings and arches, and the dramatic use of lighting in the entire space elevates the project in a way that is both thoughtful and innovative. The design concept was well executed, and the end result is timeless.”
The Best of Competition winner was announced on Saturday, June 23, during the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. Images of the winning project are featured on the IIDA website and will be published in Contract and American Libraries magazines.
For questions or more information, contact Lisa Toth, senior director of Association operations, at ltoth@iida.org.
About the International Interior Design Association
IIDA is the commercial interior design association with global reach. We support design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through our network of 15,000+ members across 58 countries. We advocate for advancement in education, design excellence, legislation, leadership, accreditation, and community outreach to increase the value and understanding of interior design as a profession that enhances business value and positively impacts the health and well-being of people’s lives every day. www.iida.org
About the American Library Association
The American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest and largest library association in the world, providing association information, news, events, and advocacy resources for members, librarians, and library users. Founded on October 6, 1876, during the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, the mission of ALA is to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services, and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.