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PARKWAY CENTRAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT HITS HIGH NOTE WITH GRAND RESTORATION AND REVEALS NEW LOOK TO COMMUNITY
PARKWAY CENTRAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT HITS HIGH NOTE WITH GRAND RESTORATION AND REVEALS NEW LOOK TO COMMUNITY
Music Department undergoes renovations and repairs, reopens to the public on March 1
PHILADELPHIA, February 16, 2010—Following months of extensive renovations, the Parkway Central Library’s Music Department will open its doors once again on March 1. From Beethoven to the Beatles to Beyoncé, the Music Department is home to hundreds of thousands of musical resources, and in August 2009, the grand room closed for much-needed updates, including custom lighting and detailed restoration.
Striking new lighting—inspired by the original fixtures on the second floor of Parkway Central and wired for improved energy efficiency—was designed by Susan Brady Lighting Design and Moshe Safdie Associates, the world-renowned architectural firm behind the new addition to Parkway Central. Reflective of the new building, which will seamlessly combine the Beaux-Arts building and a soaring glass addition, the lighting combines historic and modern design.
Another exciting feature of the revamped department includes new technology, such as wireless, touch-screen computers and scanners that can transform sheet music into digital music. “We are thrilled to introduce this new technology,” said Free Library of Philadelphia President and Director Siobhan A. Reardon. “The aesthetically and digitally improved Music Department is a sign of things to come for Parkway Central!”
Further improvements include a new color palette chosen by Moshe Safdie and restoration of the original, ornate plaster ceiling and the room’s marble.
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The Free Library of Philadelphia system consists of 49 branches, three regional libraries, the Parkway Central Library, and the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. With more than 6 million visits annually, the Free Library is one of the most widely used educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia.
02/16/2010
Department of External Affairs, Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710, FAX (215) 567-7850