Located 40 miles east of Detroit in Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan’s William W. Cook Legal Research Library Reading Room is a stunning example of Collegiate Gothic architecture. Designed by the renowned New York architectural firm York & Sawyer and completed in 1931, the Cook Law Library—together with Hutchins Hall, the Lawyers Club, and the John P. Cook Dormitory—forms the university’s iconic Law Quadrangle, affectionately known around Ann Arbor as “The Quad.”
In 2008, Lord Aeck Sargent Architects commissioned me for what became an architectural photographer’s dream job: documenting the “before and after” stages of renovation at Hutchins Hall and the Cook Law Library. The Cook Law Library is one of Michigan’s most magnificent interior spaces, and I was thrilled to spend time capturing its grandeur.
The first phase of photography took place in October 2008, capturing the Research Library Reading Room’s original state before renovations began. In January 2009, I returned to document the completed renovations, which included a beautifully restored cork floor, meticulously cleaned and refurbished chandeliers, and professionally restored stained-glass windows. Additional enhancements included cleaning of the walls and rich wood paneling, restoration of the library’s classic desks and distinctive desk lamps, and careful restoration of the ornate ceiling. To further highlight the ceiling’s intricate details, discreet modern lighting was added.
Given that this photography documented a restoration project, all images had to be captured using only existing ambient lighting conditions. Photographing on cloudy days allowed us to avoid harsh contrasts from bright exterior sunlight, creating more evenly lit images.
At the time, I had recently transitioned from film to digital photography (2007), and I was using Nikon’s state-of-the-art 12MP D2x camera. Although impressive for its era, the D2x had limitations in dynamic range compared to modern cameras like the current 45MP Nikon D850. To overcome this, I employed highlight and channel masking techniques during post-production to prevent blown-out highlights and preserve detail.
While I occasionally wish I could revisit this project with today’s technology, the 16-year-old digital images from the D2x still hold their own remarkably well in serving as a testament to the beauty of the William W. Cook Legal Research Library Reading Room’s architecture and the craftsmanship of the restoration by Lord Aeck Sargent Architects.
