[Suriano & Perry] [Library Design: Community Transformation] IFLA LBES 2016

LIBRARYDESIGN

+ COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION

We mobilize around issues that move us. We place them at the heart of our business, and we have an impact on them even beyond our core expertise.

GLOBAL REACH

0101 Columbus

02 Seattle

03 San Francisco

04 Los Angeles

05 New York

06 London

07 Shanghai

We are optimists.

We believe design can solve all problems.

We believe it can help individuals and societies thrive, not just survive.

We believe that everyone is entitled to great design.

We advocate publicly for great design and inspired buildings and cities.

INHERENTLY HUMAN

APPROACH / PROCESS

COMPUTATIONW e d e s i g n p h y s i c a l s p a c e s t h a t u s e d a t a , s m a l l a n d b i g , t o g i v e p o w e r t o t h e a m b i g u o u s , s e r e n d i p i t o u s , a n d w o n d r o u s .

SERVICEW e u s e o u r w o r k a n d w o r d t o c o n f r o n t p r e s s i n g g l o b a l c h a l l e n g e s l i k e c l i m a t e c h a n g e , s o c i a l i n e q u i t y a n d w e l l b e i n g .

RESEARCHW e i n t e g r a t e r e s e a r c h i n t o o u r

p r o c e s s s u p p o r t i n g e n v i r o n m e n t s c o n t r i b u t i n g t o e n h a n c e d

e x p e r i e n c e s a n d h u m a n p e r f o r m a n c e

CONCEPTUALIZATIONW e a d v o c a t e p u b l i c l y f o r g r e a t

d e s i g n a n d i n s p i r e d b u i l d i n g s a n d c i t i e s .

NEW TRAJECTORY

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Thanks to all of you and the great presentations yesterday and today. I would like to point out before we start a story. I always thought that architects were a special breed of people. Then I started working with librarians. Giving presentation to Columbus Library on options for environmental stewardship for new facilities. Had a statistic about world population, and there was a typo. The CEO of Columbus Library stopped me and pointed out that my stat was wrong. He was actually fact checking me during the talk. So I learned not to put facts in my presentations, and your only getting opinions today. Would like to set a attitude for how we were thinking about libraries prior to building these branches. What is their trajectory?

A HISTORY OF L IBRARIES IS ONE

REFLECTING A GRADUAL SHIFT OF C IV IC VALUE FROM THAT OF PHYSICAL

ASSETS TO THAT OF COMMUNITY.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

As we have seen through other content over the last day and a half, there is a commonality and understanding that, at least among public libraries, that we are seeing a shift in focus from 'stuff' to 'people'.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

We can trace this idea, somewhat inexplicitly in a historical context, watching library space bend to the common wants and social needs of people rather than its resources, which inevitably change, grow, shrink, and evolve.

DISPOSITION

ALONE TOGETHER

Presenter

Presentation Notes

This is important because that is reflected in our predominant behavior as we go to libraries and how that affects our disposition. At one point, libraries facilitated a solitary, quiet, research-based behavior. They still do. Increasingly however, behavior has become more outward-facing, extroverted and social. The idea of being alone, or together, or even alone-together.

KNOWLEDGE

HEIRARCHICAL NETWORKED

Presenter

Presentation Notes

At one point, libraries existed at the top of the food chain with regard to being a singular repository of knowledge. Today they are simply another node in this network of human knowledge that we are surrounded with today.

In 2010 Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) set out on an aspirational building plan to

rebuild or renovate 10 branches identified as most in need of

transformation.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

CML 20/20 Vision Plan, 10 new projects by 2020.

With nearly $100 million worth of projects in the planning phases or under construction, this was one

of the largest capital improvement programs in its history.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

This represented about 100 million in planning and construction (now more), and was also their first major facilities upgrade in 25 years.

NORTHSIDE LIBRARY

Under Construction2017

DRIVING PARKLIBRARY

Completed2014

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Under Construction2017

Presenter

Presentation Notes

We tried to internalize this challenge in respect to two branch library projects we developed with the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Driving Park, which was completed in 2014, and more recently Northside to be completed in the spring.

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Prior to and concurrent to those designs, we worked in concert with Bruce Mau Design to develop a set of 5 tenets to help guide decision making/ The go beyond broad visioning principles like 'transparency' and 'flexibility'. These really try to set forth an attitude about how their new buildings addressed their specific needs and communities.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

We learned yesterday about collaborative strategies with stakeholders, users, etc. This program underwent similar rigor, and that resulted in a fresh look at everything. During those sessions, we identified how much elements of the library were not so much changing, but diversifying.- examples past and emergent future. Customer as once an indecent scholar, and now culture consumer, young learner, etc. Experience was once quiet and serious, and is now active, social, and variable.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

We tried to take those new roles, the library's needs, and the potential that we saw, and filtered it through these tenets to produce a building.

GO BEYOND OPEN

TAKE A POINTILLIST APPROACH

MAKE ICONIC

GESTURES

DESIGN PURPOSEFUL EFFICIENCIES

DESIGN FOR A KNOWN

AND UNKNOWN

FUTURE

1 2 3

4 5

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Presenter

Presentation Notes

An overall long exercise, but I want to share the 5 key tenets that came out of it. List them – go beyond open, take a pointillist approach, make iconic gestures, design purposeful efficiencies, and design for a known and unknown future.

A major tenet of the Columbus Metropolitan Library is “Open to All.”

This alludes to access, and equality, but its contemporary mandate is one that is

much more active. 1

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Open to All alludes to equality and access – but it needed to be more active.

Inviting, compelling, accommodating, and engaging are its new charges.

GO BEYOND OPEN

1

Presenter

Presentation Notes

GO BEYOND OPEN. Going beyond “open” is a charge to be more inviting and compelling – not just passive.

The experience of navigating the Library and staff areas felt like looking

at only a single shade from the Library’s palette.

2

Presenter

Presentation Notes

The library was too neutral – felt like a single shade from a broad palette.

New facilities aimed at introducing contrast and variance to liberate spaces

from a blanket of sameness.

TAKE A POINTILIST APPROACH

2

Presenter

Presentation Notes

TAKE A POINTILIST APPROACH. Contrast and variance liberate spaces that suffer from the bane of creating universality.

The once inherent value and distinction of the physical space has waned and that there were becoming too few

reasons to make the trip.3

Presenter

Presentation Notes

As the value of physical space waned the library was finding people had less reason to go.

Design must send clear signals that express the core of the Library’s

purpose and encourage meaningful engagement

MAKE ICONIC GESTURES

3

Presenter

Presentation Notes

MAKE ICONIC GESTURES. Buildings should express the core of the libraries purpose and encourage meaningful engagement.

Outdated layouts and organic changes over time have left the Library with

spaces that hinder the staff’s full potential as they contribute to the

mission and vision. 4

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Outdated layouts + organic changes have hindered potential of the staff.

We can foster innovative thinking by designing spaces that make inspiration and collaboration requirements on par

with efficiency

DESIGN PURPOSEFUL EFFICIENCIES

4

Presenter

Presentation Notes

DESIGN PURPOSEFUL EFFICIENCIES. Creating inspirational and collaborative space should be on par with creating efficient space.

The acceleration of change and the uncertainty of what’s next can prove an almost crippling burden when planning

decades ahead. 5

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Uncertainty can be paralyzing when we don’t know how to plan for what lies ahead.

Providing nimble but not neutral spaces will allow change while maintaining a consistent vision.

DESIGN FOR BOTH A KNOWN AND AN UNKNOWN FUTURE

5

Presenter

Presentation Notes

DESIGN FOR A KNOWN AND UNKNOWN FUTURE. Be nimble but not neutral while maintaining vision.

DRIVING PARK

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Metrics: Area: 15,000 sf Cost: $7,500,000 construction cost.

The new DRIVING PARK branch library is at once addressing the challenge of what it means to be a library in the information age, but also tasked with providing a community with a much-needed catalyst for solidarity and positive change.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Driving Park was not just about addressing he challenge of a new branch today, but how to give a tough neighborhood a point of hope.

HOW DOES THE PHYSICAL SPACE OF THE LIBRARY MANIFEST ITSELF IN A WAY THAT

IS RELEVANT TO ITS CONTEXT AND COMMUNITY AS AN EXTENSION OF THE

LIBRARY’S VISION??

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Fundamental question.

The Driving Park neighborhood has one of the highest violent

crime rates in the City of Columbus.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Highest violent crime in Columbus, red area on the map.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Neighborhood was isolated through construction of I70. Design team wanted to access the degree of connectivity in what seemed to be an area with low amenities. Lines connect service/food/transportation nodes within a quarter mile of one another.

New Site Old Site

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Because the neighborhood was primarily residential, it was actually difficult to find concurrent property/parcels. Ended up simply moving down the street.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

The final site was at a major intersection for the community. We thought this was important in being a visual marker in the neightborhood, and creating a sense of place that it currently lacked. Push building to corner, parking to rear, and lawn to the west. Using for storm water mitigation.

TRADITIONAL LIBRARY

CURRENT DRIVING PARK PLANNING APPROACH

HIGH DENSITY SPACE (UTILITY)

MEDIUM DENSITY SPACE (BOOKS & CIRCULATION)

LOW DENSITY SPACE (STUDY & READING)

REORIENT BUILDING

CUT AND FLIP TRADITIONAL PROGRAM INSIDE-OUT




NEW CONCEPTUAL ORGANIZATION

NEW CONCEPTUAL ORGANIZATION

SHIFT ZONES TO ACCOMODATE OUR SPECIFIC PROGRAM

BREAK BUILDING TO CREATE ENTRY CONNECTING STREET & PARKING

BOOKS FOLLOW CIRCULATIONDEFINE SOCIAL SPACE

DEPRESS QUIETER SPACERAISE ACTIVE SPACE

INTRODUCE LIGHT WELL

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Driving Park is named for a racetrack that once existed in the neighborhood. Eddie Rickenbacker (famous pilot in WWI), cut his teeth there. We wanted to provide an homage to that heritage in a non-cheesy way – so we used the idea of the racetrack.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Serves to organize circulation, but also a datum for distributing space around the project.

HIGH FLEXIBILITY

LOWFLEXIBILITY

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Before starting, we collected the program from small pieces and rooms to zones that shared adjacencies and characteristics. We then distilled those zones to high, medium and low density spaces, and distributed them based on contextual ques. Open space at street, low flexibility, density at rear.

CONSTRUCTION COMMENCED ON JULY 31ST 2013.

THE BUILDING OPENED TO THE PUBLIC ON JULY 12TH 2014.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Creating an urban pocket.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Building skin wraps and rises eventually to form the canopy on the south side.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

DP provides a place to go.

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Presentation Notes

Entry provides a zone linking front to back.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Racetrack housing media – growing over time. Racetrack organizing circulation.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Two types of customer. Those that don’t see the vestiges of old library use, and those that still want to read quietly. Quiet spaces coupled with active spaces.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Kids are given priority here – young minds are so important at CML.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Access to technology – the best.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Access to technology – the best.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Analog – space as a tool for learning.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Taking every opportunity for literacy – furniture.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

The result is a space that is bright, crisp, and different. There is a sense of pride here that wasn’t there before, and you can see it in the customers.

INCREASE IN VISITSINCREASE IN HOMEWORK HELP USEINCREASE IN COMPUTER SIGN-UPSINCREASE IN MEETING ROOM USEINCREASE IN CHILDRENS BOOK CHECK-OUTSSTORMWATER CONTROLLED ON SITE

60%140%

70%350%212%

89%

NORTHSIDE

The NORTHSIDE LIBRARY currently sits at a junction of four significant urban vectors in Columbus and rather than one single contextual driver, the library is a reflection of this unique junction, as such celebrating the scale, material and vibrancy of these neighborhoods.

/ u r b a n g r o w t h

/ s t i t c h e d n e i g h b o r h o o d s

/ l i b r a r y a s f u l c r u m

A V A I L A B L ES I T E

/ P R O P E R T Y

N

/ E X I S T I N G B R A N C H

N

/ F O O T P R I N T

3 6 , 8 0 0 S F

N

/ A D J U S T F O R Z O N I N G + P A R K I N G

P A R K I N G

1 8 , 5 0 0 S F

N

/ C R E A T E c i v i c d e n

N

/ C R E A T E c i v i c d e n

Nd e n

/ A L L O W P R O G R A M Z O N E S T O C O N N E C T

N

/ A L L O W P R O G R A M Z O N E S T O C O N N E C T

N

/ D I S P L A C E E A S T F A C E T O E X P O S E I N T E R I O R

N

/ C R E A T E P L A Z A & R E A D I N G L O F T

N

/ C R E A T E r e a d i n g l o f t

Nl o f t

/ C O N N E C T V O L U M E S W / C I R C U L A T I O N

N

/ t h e r m a l m a s s

N

/ s t o r m w a t e r m i t i g a t i o n

N

/ A R T I C U L A T E C O N T E X T T H R O U G H M A T E R I A L S

N

/ A R T I C U L A T E C O N T E X T T H R O U G H M A T E R I A L S

N

ENTRY 2 ,203SF

MEETING 4 ,519SF

HELP CENTER 813SF

KIDS 4 ,409SF

TEENS 945SF

OUTDOOR

SOCIAL 1 ,975SF

BROWSING 3,129SF

TECHNOLOGY 2,438SF

STAFF 2 ,269SF

UTILITY 1 ,686SF

VERT. CIRCULATION

LOW

OUTDOOR

MEDIAN

HIGH

L E V E L 0 1P L A N

E N T RY

S O C I A L

S T A F F

B RO W S I N G

K I D Z O N E

T E E N Z O N E

H E L P C E N T E R

M E E T I N G

V E RT I C A L

U T I L I T Y

T E C H

L E V E L 0 2P L A N

E N T RY

S O C I A L

S T A F F

B RO W S I N G

K I D Z O N E

T E E N Z O N E

H E L P C E N T E R

M E E T I N G

V E RT I C A L

U T I L I T Y

T E C H

ELEVATION: HIGH STREET RAMP/PLATFORM

PLAN: HIGH STREET RAMP/PLATFORM

TO QUIET LOUNGE

HIGH STREET

UP UP UP

LEVEL 0133’-0” 33’-0”38’-0”

THANK YOU