Poland Library Wins Interior Design National Award; Library is Featured in National Architecture Magazine

POLAND (July 7, 2002) - Poland Library continues to receive national attention for innovation and design. Most recently, the library was chosen from a field of 130 national entries for an Excellence in Design Award presented by Patcraft Commercial Carpet in June. Additionally, Poland Library was featured in the June edition of "Clem Labine's Traditional Building," a magazine specializing in public architecture.

Robert Mastriana, AIA, of 4M Company, Poland Library architect, received the Chandler Design Award from Patcraft at a ceremony in Chicago June 10. Poland Library's design was one of only three national winners, chosen from a field of 130 entries. This is the first annual Chandler Design Awards, named for the Chandler family which founded Patcraft over 50 years ago. Award winners were selected by a panel of three nationally known designers and entries were judged on creativity, intelligent design and overall functionality.

Judges were Roger Godwin, managing director, Gensler Atlanta, registered architect, member of the AIA Interiors Committee and member of the Design Futures Council Board of Advisors; Maria Bordwell, senior manager of design, The Environments Group in Chicago; and Tiffany English, interior designer, Ware Malcomb Architects in San Ramon, Calif.

"We were honored to be acknowledged in the industry by such outstanding judges," said Mastriana. "We are also pleased to have the library recognized in this way. We designed this facility as so much more than a library. A library can become a central focal point in its community and since opening in December, Poland Library has truly become a hub of community activity. Additionally, our design incorporated an extensive use of recycled materials, plus features which highlight the beauty of the site's natural setting, alongside Poland's Yellow Creek."

Library Director Carlton A. Sears was pleased to be a part of a project, the Poland Library, which has brought such positive recognition to the Mahoning Valley. "There are many good things happening in the Mahoning Valley and one of them is its library system. We are happy to have been involved in a project which has become so widely recognized, bringing positive attention to our valley."

Since its beginnings in 1978, 4M Company has become known for design excellence and creativity. Projects include banks, college buildings, automotive facilities, restaurants, shopping centers, retail stores, courthouses, churches, condominiums and apartments, and more. Working on the project were Robert Mastriana, architectural and design principal; F. Paul Mastriana, business and managing principal; and James A. Yoder, senior associate architect.

Poland Library Featured in Two National Magazines

Poland Library, 311 S. Main St., opened December 3 and has drawn national attention several times over the past few months, being featured in two national magazines. An article recognizing the Earth-friendly features of the design and construction appeared in the California-based "Environmental Design + Construction" magazine in March 2002.

Most recently, Poland Library appeared in the annual May/June Main Street Revitalization Edition of "Clem Labine's Traditional Building" magazine, a professional resource for public architecture, published in Brooklyn, NY.