9/18/2009 12:41:00 PM Residents ask for frugal library design
Fitchburg residents met with architects from Engber Anderson to discuss possible designs for the Fitchburg Public Library.
Katelin Smith ConnectFitchburg.com Correspondent
Sustainability and frugality.
Those were the important concepts many Fitchburg residents told architects from Engber Anderson to keep in mind when designing the $14 million library at the first of three public meetings on the new building's design.
"In general terms, we heard a consistent message of frugality, return on the investment, value, long-term value, sustainability, community gathering place, the social aspects of library design," Architect Joe Huberty said Tuesday night after a presentation and Q-and-A session that lasted about two hours.
To generate design ideas, he showed attendees pictures of local buildings, as well as libraries from across the state, nation and world, and asked to indicate what pictures they liked and which ones they did not like.
Huberty suggested several issues to take in consideration. On the exterior, his points to ponder ranged from rooflines and style to how to direct stormwater. For the interior, participants were asked about shelving, paint color, the role of technology and several different design aspects.
"The particular of the aesthetics, it will be interesting to tally the survey results and see what the people are thinking," Huberty said.
Many people told him they would like the building look similar to other buildings in the area. Some people also pointed out that the library would serve are a place to connect, especially since Fitchburg lacks a school system.
It needs to be "an agent of cohesion," one person said.
Huberty felt It was a productive meeting and accomplished its purpose.
"We got what we were hoping for out of the meeting," he said.
The library has been a long time coming and has a long way to go.
In November, voters approved a referendum to authorize $10 million to construct the library but rejected a $1.8 million referendum for annual operating costs.
At a subsequent Common Council meeting, the council supported a resolution to develop a less costly library proposal but did not support a resolution to show support of constructing and operating it. And in February, the council voted to allow the Library Board to go ahead with fund-raising, planning, and likely construction.
The Council has yet to approve $10 million in bonds, and supporters of the library - who have promised to raise an additional $4 million - have said some potential donors want to see a commitment from the city first.
The groundbreaking for the library is slated for May 2010, with the director to be hired that June. Other members of the library team are to be hired several months later, and the staff could be in the building in March 2011.
The second library design meeting will take place Oct. 21 and will present an initial design based on concepts residents asked for at this meeting.
