The Central Library

We brought onto our team one of the region's best library consultants - Randy Gibson from PSA/Dewberry - to ensure that the free-standing building we wanted to propose would i) reflect state-of-the-art design for a 21st Century library, ii) be efficient to operate and iii) be open and inviting to the community.

I recently asked Randy to describe the functional and philosophical differences between a central library and a branch facility. Here's what he had to say:

"Historically, central libraries have usually been the first library in the community. They are most often the largest facility within a multiple facility library system, both in terms of physical structure and collection sizes.

Central libraries tend to be located in the historic center of a community, whereas branch libraries tend to be established as service points to areas that are growing and/ or to provide convenience to geographic expansion.

Perhaps the major difference between a central library and branch library, however, is the fact that the central library typically enjoys historical, cultural and architectural significance, whereas branch libraries enjoy no such iconic importance. Because of this, it is of critical importance that the central library be viewed as an independent entity – both physically and organizationally.

The character of the central library communicates a great deal about the values of the community, not only to its citizens, but to outsiders as well. Is it symbolic of grandeur? Is it welcoming yet formidable? Does it communicate a sense of importance? Or is it in the background or hidden? The significance of this difference is profound.

There are typically some fundamental differences in functionality between central and branch library facilities. The central library, as is implied in its name, typically houses centralized services – administration, technical services (processing), interlibrary loaning, and technology support services. Outreach services are often contained within the central library.

Besides staff functions, the central library is often distinct from branch facilities in terms of public services. Notably, central libraries will frequently house the highly specialized collections (local history, genealogy, rare books, etc). It is these collections that draw people from often far away places.

Because of the typical demographics surrounding the central city, central libraries have smaller children’s libraries, smaller young adult (or teen) spaces, but larger reference collections, career development materials, and greater numbers of digital resources. Branch libraries cater to a more targeted audience. Often, the branch is highly geared to popular materials, and can be seen as having more space dedicated to children, to casual reading, library programming, and to technology. "

Block 66 Animation

Here is a short animated model that flies around Block 66 as we envision it.

This plan contemplates a new free-standing Central Library on West Washington Avenue, followed by redevelopment of 200 Mifflin Street to include i) a new Hotel with lobby across from Overture Center for the Arts, ii) related retail uses on Mifflin Street, iii) 400 parking stalls above ground, with hotel above. This model illustrates potential office use on corner of Henry Street and Mifflin (which we offer as a possible relief for the Municipal Building, if a new convention hotel is built on that site).

What’s next on the Schedule?

Our team acknowledges that this is an important decision for Madison, and we support the community dialogue that is required to build a shared vision around what the new Central Library could mean for our city... Here is the next meeting on the schedule:

Central Library Surplus Property Criteria and Selection Committee
When: February 2, 2009
Why: The Disposal Committee will meet to discuss pros/cons of the alternative proposals submitted in response to the RFP.

FYI - Here’s the schedule from the Request for Proposal issued by the City of Madison on Sept 20, 2008: MadisonPublicLibraryRFP.pdf

And here’s the resulting development schedule that we anticipated in our proposal: Development_Schedule.pdf

After a development team is selected there is significant time required for selection of interior architect by the City, legal documentation and public approvals before a shovel can be put into the ground.

We are quite anxious to begin work on this project. We believe that the Central Library is a civic institution that plays an important role in our local economy, and a new 21st Century library is an investment that could do great good!

Potential Federal Funding?

On January 15th, we heard from Governor Doyle that he expects Wisconsin will be granted some federal money in the form of a Stimulus Package. We also understand that Mayor Dave Cieslewicz has included the Downtown Public Library on the list of stimulus projects to be considered for the City of Madison.

The Downtown Public Library may well be positioned perfectly for President Obama's Stimulus Package. Here is why, based on four key measurements for Stimulus funding as described by the Governor:

1. Get people back to work quickly. Our proposal for the Library is "shovel ready" and more. The foundations are already in place. We can start work on the new Library within 60 days. Selective demolition could occur as we initiate steel detailing and fabrication. A local workforce of architects, engineers, sub-contractors, fabricators and trades workers could be working promptly, and steel could begin placement within just a few months.

2. Affect many areas of the State. The public library system has a significant and broad economic impact in our region. A new central library not only will strengthen this system, but increased visitor activity at the new facility will stimulate economic activity at surrounding businesses. The second phase also adds value and uses that will compliment existing businesses around the Capitol, on State Street and Mifflin Street, providing better adjacent uses to Overture Center with a hotel complex, and sidewalk shops and restaurants for the Bassett neighborhood.

3. Include small businesses and contractors. This project will be designed and built locally with small to medium sized businesses. The economic impact will hit the street immediately.

4. Long-term value. The value of a new downtown library, relocated to a major Capitol axis street and vacating a site that allows even more private investment in a key downtown location will bring phenomenal long-term value to current and future generations. By any measure, the Fiore-Irgens proposal, designed by Eppstein Uhen Architects and built by J.H. Findorff & Son, will exceed any other alternative that leaves the Library on its present site.

This project should be placed very high on any list prioritizing where best to invest federal, state or local dollars with the purpose of achieving prompt, measureable and long-term value to a community.

Steve Holzhauer

Top Five Design Advantages

The Wisconsin State Journal recently asked us to describe the "top five areas that your project offers an advantage over your competitor in terms of site plan, design, use of space, etc." Here's what we gave them:

The Library will be an iconic building at a prominent location.

• The free-standing Library will enjoy a high-profile visibility along West Washington Avenue - a major gateway into Downtown Madison.
  
• The Library’s exclusive main entry is prominently located along a major bus and pedestrian axis to the Capitol Square and enjoys an average daily traffic count of 20,000 vehicles (compared to 9,000 cars at the existing location)
  
• The Library will properly represent the value our community places on this important civic institution.
  
• The free-standing Library will generate greater support from private donors and may enable other federal funding sources.

The design details are superior in every category.

• The building is south facing, affording warmth and comfort to reading areas, the 6th floor outdoor patio, and better winter ice control on sidewalks at the entry of the building.
  
• The building provides 18’ between floors to allow better daylight penetration.
  
• The exterior is real stone and glass, not “stone-like” cladding.
  
• The mechanical system is higher quality, and allows more outdoor air, better filtration, and higher indoor air quality with less maintenance than the heat pump system proposed by others.

The public experience will be outstanding.

• The main entry level is inviting and graciously proportioned; providing 29,000 sq ft of area including the mezzanine. The circulation desk is prominent at the entry; the two-story portion along Henry Street is pleasant and functional and will be used for reading tables, comfortable chairs, new releases, and popular collections.
  
• Southern exposures, tall ceiling heights and high glass-to-floor-area ratio provide superior natural day-lighting to every square foot of public area.
  
• West Washington window bays will provide library patrons fantastic views from all floors, and the top floor patio is accessible to library patrons.

The Library will enjoy complete and continuous operational control of its facility.

• The library will not be required to move during construction of the new building. It will be able to operate and function in its present location right up to moving day.
  
• The free-standing library will enjoy complete operational control of its space. There will be no shared vertical circulation with other building occupants. The Library will not be exposed to water and sanitary sewer leaks or other potential damage originating from other building occupants.
  
• True freight and loading facilities are provided at a location convenient to library back-of-house areas.
  
• The dedicated and library-appropriate HVAC system will offer greatest comfort, control and air quality.
  
• LEED Silver building will provide lowest lifecycle operating cost

The Library will be part of a true mixed-use plan - a rare urban plan for the whole city block.

• Existing fully occupied tech office (185,900 sf);
  
• Phase II public parking, hotel/office and true street-level retail provide real synergies for the Library, Overture Center and other downtown businesses
  
• Up to 400 new stalls in Phase II provides public parking opportunity.
  
• With completion of Phase II, Block 66 will be fully-integrated, well-proportioned and presenting attractive architecture on all four street elevations.

Inside the New Library: Daylight!

When skillfully introduced, daylight creates an ambience of quiet contemplation and visual comfort. The effective use of daylight in library design is both an art and a science. (1)

In all areas of the Fiore-Irgens proposed building, high efficiency, clear glass will maximize light penetration and minimize the exterior mirror effect seen in many corporate office buildings.

South facing windows are the easiest to protect against direct solar radiation since the sun is at relatively high angles for most of the day. The library's south facade (Washington Ave.) will be carefully designed to control and diffuse direct sunlight. The horizontal sun shades pictured in the renderings are intentionally located high above the eye level to shade the glass while providing the least visual obstruction. The design of the exterior sunshades make them permeable to daylight while maintaining full shading characteristics.

The library's design consciously considers energy efficiency by incorporating some solid wall area on the west and east sides, addressing concerns over direct morning and afternoon sunlight on the building. While commercial office buildings must wrap the entire perimeter of the building with windows, our design expresses the library use with vertical window bays that offer bright, cheerful seating areas along the building's length while striking a balance between the amount of glass and the realities summer solar gain/winter heat loss. In addition, The building's 90-foot depth combined with fourteen-foot high ceilings and internal light shelves will deliver diffuse daylight deep into the building interior.

Bay windows on West Washington Ave and also on Henry Street will give library patrons the type of views usually reserved for CEO's and executive corner offices. In cold winter months, patrons will enjoy the opportunity to find a comfortable seat in the sun. A cozy chair and a great street view will be a big draw for library users.

The 6th floor of the library is envisioned to be a prime public meeting space providing expansive views of the city's skyline. With its high ceilings and deep roof overhangs, daylight in this space will be bright and even throughout the day. A modest but effective outdoor patio on the south side will be a delightful place to view the Capitol or catch some fresh air.

by: Steve Holzhauer

(1) Daylighting Design in Libraries. 2005. Edward t. Dean, AIA

Background: RFP and Competing Proposals

The Madison Public Library has updated its website to include links to the Request for Proposals, and full copies of the responses by both teams - including floor plans and qualifications.

Planning for the Future: Central Library

The site also addresses the reasons that a new library is needed, and describes the functional obsolescence of the existing library building.

Both development teams presented their proposals and vision for a new Central Library at a joint public hearing of the Library Board and the Central Library Surplus Property Criteria and Selection Committee (yes, that is truly its name... otherwise known as "the Disposal Committee") on January 8, 2009. It was filmed for broadcast by Madison City Channel - and you can watch it stream online here.
(Note: RealPlayer plug-in is required. This is a free download if you don't yet have it.)

Online Discussion - The Daily Page Forum

The public library is an important civic institution, so our community needs to discuss the goals for improving the library, seek a consensus around the vision, and fully understand the investment needed in a new Central Library.

There has been thoughtful and articulate community discussion begun online at The Daily Page Forum - Central Library Proposal.
Check it out.

We need to ask the right questions about library plan

This guest column by Derrick Van Mell appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal on January 1, 2009. (Click on image above for full article.)

I think that Van Mell has this right. At the end of the day, the most important step will be for our community to consider and re-affirm our commitment to the values historically expressed by our libraries - equal access to knowledge, life-long learning, and the importance of literacy. The Central Library is different and much more than a branch library. It is a symbolic expression of these democratic values.

Our team passionately believes that these symbols are important, and we will argue that Madison should take this opportunity to build a new central library of real substance and integrity.