10/25/2009 11:08:00 PM Citizens pick two favored library designs
Attendees voted among three designs for the library presented by Engberg Anderson.
Architect Joe Huberty takes a straw poll at the Oct. 21 library design meeting.
By Katie Smith ConnectFitchburg.com
Architects unveiled three conceptual drawings for the Fitchburg Library last week, all of which included a generous amount of windows and a garden area on the roof.
Of the three two-story designs, the roughly 50 people at the Oct. 21 meeting clearly favored two of them. The meeting was the second of three public input sessions to design the $14 million building.
The third design was the most favored by a vote of 24-17. It is a prairie style building with a combination of slanted and flat roofs. It has windows extending the height of the building on one side and also includes a glass-encased foyer.
The first design, the next most popular, features a look similar to City Hall and includes a tower design element. It has a strong façade with quite a bit of brick and a pitched roof.
The second design did not receive any votes. It also incorporates a tower and adds a large clock near the top. The roof is flat, and like the third design, its windows also extend the entire height of the building on one side.
The tower design was incorporated into the first two concepts because towers are a recurring theme in Fitchburg, Engberg Anderson architect Alex Ramsey said.
The "green roof" on each of the designs, in addition of being a space for patrons to enjoy, would serve as a water treatment by slowing down runoff and would even with temperature control of the building, architect Joe Huberty said.
Ramsey said all of the conceptual designs have figured green space into the design, and many of those in attendance Oct. 21 voted in favor of having a green roof on the library.
She noted that one resident at the September meeting said green space is what Fitchburg is all about.
Some people wondered about security and maintenance with such a design, however.
Huberty said the most maintenance would come during the first year, with the city needing to make sure the plants are watered. He said the landscaping would mostly likely include drought-tolerant plants that would bloom at various times during the year.
Huberty said security would depend on how the roof is accessed - it could either be through the library or through the stairs on the outside.
Other issues brought up at the meeting included parking, particularly considering the possibility of activities taking place at City Hall, the Community Center and the library all at once.
"That's one of the reasons parking has been looked at on a number of fronts," Huberty said.
He said the plan includes parking under the library in addition to above-ground parking. On-street parking will also be added along Research Park Drive.
The results of the visual survey at the library design meeting in September showed the majority of people preferred to have the library be integrated into the landscape. Ramsey said respondents also favored having a consistent design theme with other buildings in Fitchburg, such as City Hall.
"A lot of comments we got back were they like the idea of having a city campus," she said.
Ramsey said in addition to building a long lasting library, functionality would also be a big part of the design.
"Function is really primary as you look at the design of the building," she said. "This really needs to be a good library for the citizens of Fitchburg. "
The Fitchburg Library Board in past meetings had stressed the importance of creating a library where patrons would have a good experience going to it and also receive good customer care. Ramsey said plans for integrated technology in the library will allow for staff to spend less time handling material and more time in providing assistance to people using the library.
The cost of the building was brought up at different points throughout the meeting. Architects assured the crowd that any design will be made to fit the $14 million budget. Ramsey said once the process moves into schematic drawings, Engberg Anderson will have a base building within the budget and have a series of options that can be added.
Construction of the 37,000-square-foot library is scheduled to start in May of next year, and staff could be in the building by March 2011.
The final library design meeting is set for two separate places Dec. 2. One will be held at 6 p.m. at Fire Station No. 2 on King James Way and the second will be at 8 p.m. at City Hall. Designs will be more detailed and will include landscaping options.
