LOS ANGELES : Library Restoration Wins National Design Award

The restoration and expansion of the Los Angeles Central Library has been given a national award for urban design from the American Institute of Architects, the organization announced this week.

The library, rebuilt after devastating fires, won special praise for the new Maguire Gardens park at its main entrance, where a parking lot used to be.

The citation was shared by the library, architects Hardy, Holzman Pfeiffer Associates of Los Angeles, park designer Lawrence Halprin of San Francisco, and the KDG firm of Los Angeles, which served as associate architect.

Another national award from the institute went to architect Franklin Israel for his restoration of a Hollywood warehouse into a post-production studio for the Limelight Production house. Also on Thursday, the Los Angeles chapter of the institute gave its top annual honor to developer Ira Yellin, who is restoring the Grand Central Market and Million Dollar Theatre Building Downtown.