The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Thomas Tredway Library

Click on image titles for larger views.

Thomas Tredway Library (from across pond, 2000), Augustana College (IL)

Thomas Tredway Library (spring, 2003), Augustana College (IL)

Institution Name: Augustana College (IL)
Original/Historic Place Name: Thomas Tredway Library
Location on Campus:
Date(s) of Construction:

1988-1990

original construction Shepley Bulfinch Richardson & Abbott

Designer: Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson & Abbott
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Contemporary (Glossary)
Significance: architecture, education, history, religion
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation:

Walls: brick

Roof: asphalt shingles

Function:

1990-present (2006)	other (coffee shop)
1990-present (2006)	library

Narrative:
Thomas Treadway Library is a five-story structure built against a hillside on the central campus. Its 85,000 square feet of floor space includes the library (over 400,000 catalogue items), meeting rooms, private study offices, conference rooms, and a coffee shop.

A portion of the David Loring map library, including topographic maps of the U.S. Geological Survey, is in this library building. The tall tower highlights the top of the library, an intentional counterpoint to the dome on Old Main across the central quadrangle. This serves as a vision/reminder of the two key academic buildings on campus.

References:

Brolander, Glen E. An Historical Survey of the Augustana College Campus. Rock Island, IL: Augustana Historical Society, 1985.

Historical Highlights of Augustana College, A Walking Tour. Pamphlet. Rock Island, IL: City of Rock Island Planning and Redevelopment Division, 2002.