Many people want nothing more than the comfort and quiet dignity of a traditional style when they go to the library. These projects, many of them historic restorations, offer just that.

The construction project that nearly quadrupled the size of Cambridge (Mass.) Public Library also served as a historic restoration for the original stone building, which was built in 1889. Inside, the main reading room was restored, as were murals that had been painted under the Works Progress Administration but that had badly faded in the intervening years.

Architect: William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc./Ann Beha Architects

Photos: Robert Benson Photography