Preliminary Redesign

The Schematic Design was presented to the Library Board and Building Committee on August 22, 2007 by Allen Bacque and Hugh Stevens, MBSB Group. The preliminary floor/furniture plan was presented by Denelle Wrightson, PSA-Dewberry.

The design was well-received by the Board and Committee, with the only concern that of budget. A Summary Statement of probable costs was presented by Allen Bacque. Significant cost items include the required modifications to the elevators, sprinkler, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems to meet today's codes. An asbestos abatement project will also be required as part of the renovation. We are proceeding into Design Development with a focus on identifying and refining probable costs associated with spaces and components of the new design. Discussion will continue as we strive to meet budget given the recent significant increases in construction related costs.

The design: front entrance reoriented to face Lafayette Street, with an extended entrance canopy. First floor includes the checkout/help desk, children's department, and teen space, and a cafe/vending/informal reading area. Second floor includes an information/help desk, the adult fiction collection, the dvd and cd collection, and meeting rooms. The third floor will be open to the public and includes an information/help desk, the adult non-fiction collection, a technology lab, genealogy/local history, and quiet reading and study room. Administrative offices will move to the 3rd floor. All floors will have a variety of group study and small study rooms, public computers, seating, and wireless internet access. The stairway will be relocated adjacent to the elevators and will go up to the third floor (currently it stops at the 2nd floor). A drive through book return and book request pickup window has been added. The Friends of the Library will occupy space on the first floor allowing easy drop off and handling of donated books. The Library Foundation will have office space on the 2nd floor.

See the flyby animation of the schematic and give us your comments. Note, you may have to wait up to a minute for the video link to appear, depending on traffic at blogspot or at youtube.