Recognizing the profound importance of these facilities in the civic landscape, since the 1960’s LDG has been proud to provide award winning design services for a numerous and diverse mix of cultural facilities ranging from museums and libraries, to civic centers and sports facilities. Our design team is well versed in addressing the unique challenges both programmatically and technically associated with these types of facilities, be they new buildings or complex additions & renovations.

Situated on the shore of the Rock River, the Burpee Museum of Natural History is part of a downtown Riverfront Museum Campus. The 15,000 square-foot addition houses a new Education Center and Multipurpose Room (lower level) and a Paleo Exhibit Hall and Traveling Exhibit Hall (upper level), providing a wonderful shared community exhibit and assembly space.

We redesigned this 130,000 SF building, a former 1950s-vintage Sears retail store to accommodates the diverse space and functions of six arts organizations: Rockford Art Museum, The Discovery Center Children’s Museum, Rockford Dance Company, Storefront Cinema, Rockford Symphony Orchestra and Northern Public Radio. The children’s museum was voted one of the nation’s best. AIA/NI Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture.

We designed a 6,000 square-foot exhibit addition, which houses interactive exhibits focusing on the history of immigration to the region. The exterior design complements the exhibits by replicating turn-of-the-20th-century construction details: natural wood post-and-beam construction and cut stone and masonry detailing.

We partnered to provide architectural and engineering design services for this 10,000-seat, 132,000 SF, multi-use arena and civic center. Recently, we provided structural, MEP, and fire protection engineering for a $23M renovation & addition. We have provided A/E services for several renovations, including a new ice floor and master planning for skyboxes. AIA/NI Award for Excellence in Architecture.

Our Peoria office designed the original 430,600 SF multi-purpose civic center project featuring a basketball/hockey arena, exhibition hall, performing arts theater, arcades & meeting spaces. In 1991, we designed a 110,000 SF exhibit hall addition with meeting rooms, lobby areas & support spaces. We served as liaison with the city, the Peoria Civic Center Authority and various public interest groups.

We designed the initial facility, a 27,000 SF library with a planned future expansion. Our charge was to design a turn-of-the-20th-century public building, with a nod to the city’s railroad heritage. In 2005, we designed the interior renovation, featuring new carpet and wall finishes, lighting, millwork, Youth Service Area renovation, Main Lobby renovation, space planning, and new/refurbished furniture. The work was phased, allowing the library to remain open during the process.

We designed a 6,070 square-foot addition to this library, addressing space needs for expanding programs -- particularly in the children's area. The addition wraps around two sides of the existing building. Exterior and interior details complement the existing brick structure, creating a seamless transition. The project also features new stack areas, a story room with a stage, a day-lit small meeting room, a child-scaled toilet room, a work room, a new entry vestibule and storage rooms.

In anticipation of rapid community growth, we designed this new, 22,000 square-foot building as a two-phased construction program. Situated on a heavily wooded site, the design takes advantage of serene views from reading areas overlooking a stream and forested backdrop. A fireplace in the reading room adds warmth and coziness to the interior atmosphere.

This project was a complete, 30,000 SF interior remodeling to the existing public library. To update the 1980s-era structure, the building was virtually gutted; staff and public spaces were created using new lighting, casework, painting, carpeting and ceilings. A large bay window was added to create a casual seating/reading area overlooking a new natural landscape space. Curved patron service desks were designed for the Youth Services area as well as the Main Circulation and Reference desks.

The community, in a 1998 referendum, authorized the Library Board to expand the library 7,000 square feet to 18,000 square feet. The board then purchased an existing industrial building for a complete gut and renovation. We designed the addition, nearly tripling the size of the existing facility.