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AIA Historic Resources Committee Holds Boston Public Library Luncheon June 5
Part of AIA25, the educational program features speakers David Leonard, Ann M. Beha FAIA, & John Ochsendorf on the legacies and challenges of BPL and other public libraries.
On June 5, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Historic Resources Committee holds their annual luncheon and educational program at the Boston Public Library (BPL), the winner of the 2025 AIA Collaborative Achievement Award. The luncheon is open to all, and is part of this year's AIA25 Conference on Architecture & Design, happening in Boston June 4 through 7.
There are over 9,000 libraries in our country today and they need advocates, architects, and civic leadership now more than ever. The AIA Historic Resources Committee’s upcoming program and luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 5, will explore the legacy, challenges, opportunities, and role of the architect as we navigate these important issues.
The BPL (McKim, Mead & White, 1895; Philip Johnson, 1972) stands as a national model of inclusive, community-driven architecture and collaborative achievement. Since its founding in 1848, and the opening of its Central Library in 1895 with the motto “Free to All” carved in stone, BPL has championed equitable access to knowledge, culture, and public space. That mission endures today through the library’s deep commitment to architectural excellence, universal design, and sustainability.
With the library’s president, a panel of architects and engineers will discuss mission, significance, technical challenges, and future vision for this American landmark—and how this future renewal project relates to libraries nationwide.
The program touches on the history of the library's McKim building—a rare confluence of art, architecture, technology, and collections. It will dig deeper into the specific work of immigrants Rafael Guastavino and family as they navigated the prevailing cultural landscape in pursuit of the American dream. Attendees will learn about the efforts of the BPL as it negotiates the fine balance between modernization, services, and stewardship of significant collections and historic resources. The program also explores the dilemmas faced by today’s libraries—along with the implications for cultural institutions everywhere—and the role that the construction industry, architects, and citizens must play to ensure their future and heritage.
The program takes place in the library's Guastavino Room, named for its renowned vaulted ceilings—an innovation designed by the Guastavino family, who worked with Charles McKim to open the unique exposed tiling as a design aesthetic. The interlocking Guastavino terracotta tiles add a majesty to the room carried throughout the McKim building. This system revolutionized structural design for decades.
The three speakers at this event include David Leonard, president of the Boston Public Library; Ann M. Beha FAIA; founder and principal of Ann Beha Architects (now Annum Architects); and John Ochsendorf, MIT professor of architecture and civil and environmental engineering and the author of Guastavino Vaulting: The Art of Structural Tile.
For participants attending the AIA25 Conference on Architecture & Design, visit the AIA25 Conference website and search for Historic Resources Committee or the event’s program code, EV123. This program is open to all—for those not attending the AIA25 Conference, email Robert Burns (rcburnsaia@gmail.com) or Luz Toro (luztoro@aia.org) to reserve your place.
Date: Thursday, June 5, 2025
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: BPL, Guastavino Room at the McKim Building
Registration Fee: $125
Link: conferenceonarchitecture.com/event-detail/?eventid=90776EAB-E0EE-EF11-8101-8147A53E1DD0
