Folger Shakespeare Library
Renewal and Revitalization
Will be published approx. on 1. October 2026
Book
Hardback
224 pages
978-1-7972-4273-6 (ISBN)
Description
The complete story behind the creation, renovation, and transformation of the world's foremost research library on the works, life, and times of William Shakespeare.
Explore the history of the Folger Shakespeare Library in this lushly illustrated volume, which traces the work of those who have built, supported, and reimagined the institution from its founding in 1932 to its renovation and reopening in 2024.
Originally designed by Philadelphia architect Paul Philippe Cret in consultation with collectors Henry and Emily Folger, the library is a significant cultural landmark in Washington, DC. In 2011, a new strategic plan was developed to transform the Folger, making it more accessible to a broader audience of visitors. This collection of essays, featuring archival and contemporary photography, explores the details of the transformative renovation.
Delve into Philadelphia-based architecture firm KieranTimberlake's assessment of every detail of the original building, along with their design strategy and collaboration with prominent partners to bring the renovation to beautiful fruition. Taking a uniquely holistic approach, the firm collaborated with leading designers in landscaping, branding, typography, and exhibition design to breathe new life into this storied building. While its elegant facade, a memorial to William Shakespeare, is unchanged, the Folger's expanded scope is extraordinary:
"The project, more than ten years in the making, pulled off a near-impossible feat . . . For the first time, the public can get up close to treasures once locked away in storage. . . . It's a masterclass in balancing preservation with reinvention."-Gerrish Lopez, Time Out
Perfect for architects, designers, and urban planners specializing in the modernization of historic structures, this is a magnificent survey of a large, historic renovation project. Readers may find themselves compelled to visit the site for themselves, though this book provides an incredible tour itself.
Explore the history of the Folger Shakespeare Library in this lushly illustrated volume, which traces the work of those who have built, supported, and reimagined the institution from its founding in 1932 to its renovation and reopening in 2024.
Originally designed by Philadelphia architect Paul Philippe Cret in consultation with collectors Henry and Emily Folger, the library is a significant cultural landmark in Washington, DC. In 2011, a new strategic plan was developed to transform the Folger, making it more accessible to a broader audience of visitors. This collection of essays, featuring archival and contemporary photography, explores the details of the transformative renovation.
Delve into Philadelphia-based architecture firm KieranTimberlake's assessment of every detail of the original building, along with their design strategy and collaboration with prominent partners to bring the renovation to beautiful fruition. Taking a uniquely holistic approach, the firm collaborated with leading designers in landscaping, branding, typography, and exhibition design to breathe new life into this storied building. While its elegant facade, a memorial to William Shakespeare, is unchanged, the Folger's expanded scope is extraordinary:
"The project, more than ten years in the making, pulled off a near-impossible feat . . . For the first time, the public can get up close to treasures once locked away in storage. . . . It's a masterclass in balancing preservation with reinvention."-Gerrish Lopez, Time Out
Perfect for architects, designers, and urban planners specializing in the modernization of historic structures, this is a magnificent survey of a large, historic renovation project. Readers may find themselves compelled to visit the site for themselves, though this book provides an incredible tour itself.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
San Francisco
United States
Dimensions
Height: 279 mm
Width: 216 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
1361 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-7972-4273-6 (9781797242736)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Stephen Kieran, FAIA, is a founding partner of KieranTimberlake, an internationally acclaimed architecture practice based in Philadelphia. He is a practitioner and scholar whose work emphasizes research-driven design, digital innovation, and the integration of sustainability as a core driver in architecture. Kieran is the author and co-author of several influential books, including refabricating Architecture and KieranTimberlake: Fullness, written with his partner James Timberlake. His practice and work have been recognized with over 300 honors, including the inaugural Latrobe Prize, the AIA Firm Award, and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award. Stephen has taught and continues to lecture widely.
Huwayda Fakhry is the Business Strategy and Communications Director at KieranTimberlake, an internationally acclaimed architecture practice in Philadelphia. With a background spanning business and architecture, she leads the firm's strategic initiatives and communications, aligning design culture with organizational vision. Her work focuses on positioning, thought leadership, and shaping narratives that spotlight innovation, sustainability, and collaboration in the built environment-advancing KieranTimberlake's mission to design with rigor and empathy.
Huwayda Fakhry is the Business Strategy and Communications Director at KieranTimberlake, an internationally acclaimed architecture practice in Philadelphia. With a background spanning business and architecture, she leads the firm's strategic initiatives and communications, aligning design culture with organizational vision. Her work focuses on positioning, thought leadership, and shaping narratives that spotlight innovation, sustainability, and collaboration in the built environment-advancing KieranTimberlake's mission to design with rigor and empathy.