alvah n. Belding memorial library

Belding, MI

Original Construction
1918
Completion Date
2007
Size
8,500 sqft; 6,000 sqft addition
National and State Register of Historic Places

The Alvah N. Belding Memorial Library is named after the original owner of the silk mills that established the city. The building features an exterior of Indiana limestone and a green tile roof with an interior of Georgia marble, Vermont Verde Antique marble, oak, and cypress woodwork.

HopkinsBurns Design Studio began its long-term relationship with the library as Architects Four in 1997, initiating the project with a feasibility study for ADA improvements and subsequent schematic design for a full restoration and a 6,000-square-foot, two-story addition. Collaborating with landscape architecture firm JJR to integrate the expansion with the riverfront site, HopkinsBurns expanded the library's capacity for reference collections, reading areas, and a dedicated children’s library. The team carefully preserved all original interior and exterior materials while integrating barrier-free modifications—including an elevator, an accessible entry ramp, updated restrooms, comprehensive mechanical and electrical upgrades, and a complete furnishings and equipment package—funded through a private capital campaign and a USDA Rural Development loan.