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Library Buildings 2007: Going, Going, Green

LJ's annual wrap-up features 168 public library projects and 21 academic buildings

By Bette-Lee Fox -- Library Journal, 12/15/2007

The year in architecture offered grand façades, creative collaborations, and calamities overcome and viewed as opportunities. The 168 public building projects and 21 academic facilities completed between July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2007, are truly allowing us to catch sight of the future.

One caveat before we plunge into the wealth of fascinating detail. For the third year, LJ has employed an online data collection tool. As wonderful as technology is, when it malfunctions, all heck breaks loose. Our apologies to any library whose project was submitted electronically but not reported here. We might just revert to paper forms in the future.

Sustaining a good thing

After noting the preponderance of teen spaces (“Betwixt and Be Teen,” LJ 12/06, p. 42ff.), this year we are acknowledging “green” spaces. Many libraries reported here achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification (e.g., William Wise Law Library, University of Colorado Boulder School of Law; MacArthur Park Branch, Long Beach Public Library, CA; Broward County South Regional/Broward Community College Library, FL; Harbor City–Harbor Gateway Branch, LAPL; Portsmouth Public Library, NH), while still others incorporated sustainable design principles into their projects (Hillview Branch, San José, CA, and the Clifton Park–Halfmoon Public Library, NY). Daylighting (“controlled admission of natural light through windows to reduce or eliminate electric lighting”), air quality upgrades, renewable resources, water reuse principles, low-voltage lighting fixtures, energy efficiency, and native plants are just some of the checklist items for an ecofriendly facility.

The libraries sharing space are exhibiting their own brand of conservation, as costs and planning fall on multiple shoulders. Two branches of the Arlington County Public Library, VA, are cooperative community projects, one neighboring with the well-known Signature theater. The Cañada College Library and Resource Center, San Mateo, CA, links to a community amphitheater. And speaking of theaters, the Kansas City Central Library's, MO, film vault was recast into a state-of-the-art screening room after a generous donation from the Stanley H. Durwood Foundation.

By the numbers

The projects do seem to be getting larger and larger. The San Mateo Public Library Main library, CA, stands tall at $64.8 million, with plenty of parking below ground. The main and system headquarters of the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, IN, is an impressive addition/remodel that totes up to $66.6 million. At over $1.1 billion, the total outlay for all projects is the second highest LJ has ever recorded.

Fewer academic projects were submitted this year; maybe it was that techno glitch again. Still, our 21 projects feature some handsome support to our educational infrastructure. Some highlights are the Belk Library and Information Commons at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC; the Beatley Library at Simmons College in Boston; and the Hill Library at North Carolina State University, Raleigh.

For libraries moving forward with building projects, green seems to be the color of choice with regard to both funding and design decision-making. We are not abandoning our built libraries with the advent of the Internet but trying to make them more long-lasting, more environmentally sound, more responsible as community centers and civic innovators. Everyone else will be green with envy.

ACADEMIC

INSTITUTION PROJECT COST GROSS AREA SQUARE FOOT COST CONSTRUCTION COST EQUIPMENT COST BOOK CAPACITY SEATING CAPACITY ARCHITECT
*Carol Grotnes Belk Library & Information Commons, Appalachian State Univ., Boone, NC $37,485,000 221,000 $156.11 $34,500,000 $1,289,192 1,000,000 1,700 Pease Associates; Shepley Bulfinch...
Cañada College Library & Resource Ctr., 30,000,000 72,526 306.77 22,249,000 843,900 79,643 222 Noll & TamSan Mateo, CA
Hampden-Sydney College Lib., VA 18,541,539 83,403 203.78 16,995,825 1,545,714 350,000 551 Marcellus, Wright, Cox
Roger & Peggy Madigan Lib., Pennsylvania 17,332,127 104,800 137.04 14,362,161 1,782,935 160,000 1,000 Murray AssociatesCollege of Technology, Williamsport
Warren Library, Palm Beach Atlantic Univ., 17,100,000 54,538 313.54 17,100,000 0 350,000 650 Leo A. DalyWest Palm Beach, FL
William A. Wise Law Library, Univ. of Colorado at Boulder School of Law n/a 59,000 222.25 13,113,000 1,034,400 679,949 454 Centerbrook Architects; Davis Partnership
**Learning Resources Ctr., Ozarks Technical Community Coll., Richwood Valley Campus, MO 534,140 3,020 157.00 474,140 60,000 5,600 35 Hagerman New Urbanism
*For a continuation of the project, see Additions and Renovations. **Library part of a larger college building of departments and classrooms

INSTITUTION STATUS PROJECT COST GROSS AREA SQUARE FOOT COST CONSTRUCTION COST EQUIPMENT COST BOOK CAPACITY SEATING CAPACITY ARCHITECT
*Beatley Library, Simmons College, Boston Total $40,000,000 121,000 n/a n/a n/a 240,000 552 Fletcher Harkness Cohen Moneyhun
New n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Renovated n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Library West, University of Florida, Gainesville Total n/a 177,000 136.68 24,192,175 n/a 1,250,000 1,600 Ross Barney Architects
New n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Renovated n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Daniel J. Evans Library, Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA Total 16,345,750 119,382 99.30 11,853,500 110,000 292,000 480 Studio Meng Strazzara
New n/a 34,681 n/a n/a n/a 32,000 n/a
Renovated n/a 84,701 n/a n/a n/a 260,000 n/a
**Carol Grotnes Belk Lib. & Info Commons, Appalachian State Univ., Boone, NC Total 8,344,200 188,416 41.66 7,850,000 n/a n/a n/a Shepley Bulfinch...;
New 3,844,200 106,000 33.49 3,550,000 n/a 0 0
Pease Associates Renovated 4,500,000 82,416 52.18 4,300,000 n/a n/a n/a
Grace Hauenstein Library, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI Total 7,300,000 49,998 103.59 5,179,084 400,000 120,000 250 Progressive AE
New n/a 27,095 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Renovated n/a 22,903 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
*Multiphase project in conjunction with a multiuse building. **Addition of parking facility and renovation of old library for academic purposes; see New Buildings for additional information.

INSTITUTION PROJECT COST GROSS AREA SQUARE FOOT COST CONSTRUCTION COST EQUIPMENT COST BOOK CAPACITY SEATING CAPACITY ARCHITECT
D.H. Hill Library, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh $11,200,000 60,000 $130.99 $7,823,537 $400,000 5,284 lf. 371 Meyer, Scherer, & Rockcastle
Estelle M. Black Library, Rock Valley College, Rockford, IL 5,514,852 60,104 81.36 4,889,852 625,000 102,780 330 Legat Architects
King Library Project/Writing Center, Miami University, Oxford, OH 4,533,700 85,000 44.12 3,750,000 684,000 100,000 1,028 BHDP Architecture
Wm. R. Perkins Library, Duke University, Durham, NC 4,086,000 31,000 128.58 3,986,000 100,000 30,000 245 Shepley, Bulfinch...
Buswell Memorial Lib., Wheaton Coll., IL 2,213,000 37,000 49.14 1,818,000 395,000 n/a n/a FGM Architects
Todd Wehr Memorial Lib., Viterbo Univ., La Crosse, WI 989,606 27,392 28.20 772,483 217,123 80,000 330 Borton Construction
Special Collections Dept., Watkinson Library, Trinity College, Hartford, CT 546,529 3,000 122.51 367,527 73,546 n/a 36 Charney Architects, LLC
University College Lib., Broward Community College, Davie, FL 430,200 2,914 109.13 318,000 94,000 n/a 20 Saltz Michelson
Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 173,268 3,100 21.61 67,000 106,268 0 58 OFI Contract Interiors

PUBLIC

COMMUNITY POP IN M CODE PROJECT COST CONSTR. COST GROSS SQ. FT. SQ. FT. COST EQUIPMENT COST SITE COST OTHER COSTS VOLUMES FEDERAL FUNDS STATE FUNDS LOCAL FUNDS GIFT FUNDS ARCHITECT
ALABAMA
Birmingham 6 B n/a n/a 8,100 n/a n/a n/a n/a 20,000 $0 $0 $1,725,000 $0 Khafra Engineering
Fairhope 137 M $7,925,183 $6,428,984 72,000 $85.72 $1,050,199 Owned $446,000 10,815 543,683 0 4,300,000 3,081,500 Walcott Adams…
ALASKA
Homer 11 M 8,818,124 6,456,240 17,115 377.23 360,000 960,000 1,041,884 43,350 4,572,792 1,253,252 66,160 2,925,920 ECI/Hyer, Inc.
ARIZONA
Avondale 75 O 7,537,053 6,233,870 31,000 201.09 839,360 344,000 119,823 65,670 0 0 7,537,053 0 SmithGroup
Gilbert 90 O 4,436,241 3,177,500 20,500 155.00 895,000 288,000 75,741 41,750 0 0 4,436,241 0 HDA
Phoenix 63 B 9,941,897 5,135,087 25,000 205.40 3,366,143 2,326 1,440,667 140,000 0 0 9,810,001 131,896 Line and Space, LLC
ARKANSAS
Huntsville 14 M 281,036 234,989 2,848 82.51 19,441 Owned 26,606 20,000 0 156,523 103,395 21,118 Ken Shireman…
CALIFORNIA
Bonita 12 B 4,514,179 3,734,942 10,118 369.13 257,267 Owned 521,970 30,253 0 0 4,514,179 0 Dominy & Assocs.
Campo 3 B 989,783 721,158 2,490 289.62 49,137 Owned 219,488 12,034 310,000 0 679,783 0 Platt/Whitelaw
Corona 12 B 5,292,852 4,768,232 9,196 518.51 324,223 Owned 200,397 20,100 0 0 5,292,852 0 STK
Fairfield 24 B 7,360,000 4,960,000 15,000 330.67 960,000 Owned 1,440,000 47,000 0 4,100,385 3,259,615 0 Group 4 Architecture
Folsom 69 M 12,600,000 8,500,000 24,000 354.17 600,000 1,800,000 1,700,000 100,000 0 0 12,500,000 100,000 BSA Architects
Harbor City 68 B 10,135,000 6,800,000 14,650 464.16 235,000 2,300,000 800,000 40,000 0 5,712,764 4,422,236 0 Carde Ten Architects
Long Beach 57 B 13,098,322 8,395,156 16,155 519.66 867,326 1,255,122 2,580,718 63,000 0 6,366,733 5,419,467 1,312,122 CWA AIA, Inc.
Morgan Hill 36 M 19,000,000 12,400,000 28,000 442.86 250,000 Owned 6,350,000 9300 lf. 0 0 18,500,000 500,000 Noll & Tam
Oxnard 79 B 10,709,604 6,802,923 23,034 295.34 961,199 1,141,031 1,804,451 80,000 347,750 5,795,760 4,312,172 255,922 Roesling Nakamura…
San Diego 23 B 9,371,500 6,408,858 15,626 410.14 700,000 Owned 2,262,642 50,000 0 1,000,000 8,371,500 0 Coombs Architecture
San Diego 7 B 3,165,253 2,000,000 7,214 277.24 190,253 750,000 225,000 28,000 0 0 550,000 2,615,253 Fehlman La Barre
San José 55 B 12,301,355 9,246,282 28,000 330.22 450,035 Owned 2,605,038 134,166 0 0 12,226,355 75,000 Anderson Brulé Archs.
San José 39 B 10,507,634 8,120,854 21,500 377.71 314,748 Owned 2,072,032 111,006 0 0 10,457,634 55,000 Studios Architecture
San José 55 B 11,482,897 7,988,376 21,035 379.77 382,014 Leased 3,112,507 100,474 0 0 11,462,897 20,000 Aedis Architecture
San Leandro 30 B 6,760,000 4,140,000 9,740 425.05 500,000 500,000 1,620,000 2511 lf. 0 3,800,856 2,959,144 0 Group 4 Architecture
San Mateo** 96 M 64,482,714 46,649,688 166,898 279.51 4,481,632 1,700,000 11,651,394 360,000 0 20,000,000 36,369,119 8,113,595 EHDD Architecture
Stockton 40 O 2,279,000 1,508,000 7,000 215.43 175,000 Owned 596,000 40,000 0 0 2,229,000 50,000 Urban Ernst Design
Temecula 94 O 18,159,104 12,494,857 34,000 367.50 1,579,474 Owned 4,084,773 160,033 0 8,552,414 9,356,690 250,000 LPA
Yreka 2 B 1,027,439 811,011 3,300 245.76 72,150 15,000 129,278 9,081 179,927 533,635 13,533 300,344 Siskiyou Design Group
COLORADO
Arvada 48 B 10,706,598 7,139,588 34,172 208.93 799,110 1,200,000 1,567,900 6,873 lf. 0 0 10,706,598 0 RNL Design
CONNECTICUT
Willington 6 M 3,480,000 2,820,000 18,560 151.94 250,000 Owned 430,000 23,054 0 500,000 3,000,000 0 Kenyon & Cutler
DELAWARE
Wilmington 74 B 6,830,000 5,370,000 18,000 298.34 363,000 Owned 1,100,000 50,000 0 2,660,000 2,870,000 1,300,000 RMJM Hillier
FLORIDA
Leesburg 50 M 8,330,892 6,962,237 41,971 165.88 709,143 Owned 659,512 14,721 lf. 0 500,000 7,485,123 345,769 Harvard Jolly Inc.
Miami 32 M 3,933,686 2,445,349 7,500 326.05 927,711 560,626 0 4,900 0 0 3,933,686 0 Miami-Dade Cty.
Pembroke 300 B 14,892,000 11,530,406 70,000 164.72 1,845,000 Leased 1,516,594 200,000 0 819,800 14,072,200 0 IBI Group; Harvard…Pines
Ruskin 38 B 10,879,000 6,222,000 40,000 155.55 3,687,000 450,000 520,000 150,000 0 500,000 10,379,000 0 GouldEvans Assocs.
ILLINOIS
Moline 43 M 12,406,514 10,319,231 68,000 151.75 963,250 Owned 1,124,033 212,440 0 124,449 11,459,275 1,125,185 OPN Architects
INDIANA
Kendallville 17 M 8,200,000 6,100,000 50,000 122.00 470,000 Owned 1,630,000 90,000 0 0 6,400,000 1,800,000 Moake Park Group
Roselawn 3 B 2,518,385 1,978,240 12,070 163.90 143,172 140,000 256,973 50,000 0 0 2,503,385 15,000 InterDesign
West Lafayette 25 B 3,663,614 2,674,230 13,500 198.09 201,000 420,000 368,384 50,000 0 0 3,053,614 610,000 Troyer Group
IOWA
Burlington 27 M 10,725,112 8,998,112 50,000 179.96 779,000 Owned 948,000 156,800 0 0 780,000 9,945,112 Leo A. Daly
Oelwein 7 M 2,935,567 1,970,136 14,700 134.02 389,333 295,164 280,934 3,810 lf. 0 250,000 1,581,280 1,104,287 Novak Design
KENTUCKY
Frankfort 48 M 9,905,248 8,247,261 39,290 209.91 742,831 344,438 570,718 200,000 0 0 9,755,248 150,000 Woollen, Molzan
Independence 151 B 9,256,159 7,119,048 39,000 182.54 952,434 742,535 442,142 91,363 0 0 9,056,159 200,000 Robert Ehmet Hayes
LOUISIANA
Baton Rouge 29 B 4,471,963 3,632,607 14,000 259.47 438,317 84,000 317,039 58,580 0 7,262 4,471,963 0 Tipton Associates
MARYLAND
Baltimore 70 B 10,100,000 8,600,000 30,318 283.65 1,000,000 Owned 500,000 10,360 lf. 0 0 7,650,000 2,450,000 RMJM Hillier
Frederick 30 B 10,936,000 8,028,000 31,060 258.47 1,160,000 1,000,000 748,000 89,664 0 0 9,886,000 1,050,000 BMK Architects
Germantown 80 B 17,299,772 11,022,100 44,193 249.41 800,817 2,215,899 3,260,956 200,000 0 0 17,299,772 0 Lukmire Partnership
Prince 80 MS 7,950,000 6,400,000 28,000 228.57 550,000 600,000 400,000 9,500 lf. 0 400,000 7,550,000 80,000 Grimm + Parker Frederick
Rockville 60 BS 25,867,394 18,394,406 101,000 182.12 990,000 2,494,109 3,988,879 200,000 0 700,000 25,167,394 0 Grimm + Parker.
MICHIGAN
Sand Lake 5 B 1,412,088 1,149,490 8,814 130.42 125,000 28,000 109,598 45,000 945,000 0 413,736 53,352 Andrus Architecture
MINNESOTA
St. Paul 55 B $9,293,260 $6,612,953 58,884 $112.30 $1,022,444 $200,250 $1,457,613 115,000 $0 $0 $9,293,260 $150,000 BKV Group
MISSISSIPPI
Jackson 22 B 2,255,650 1,912,154 14,000 136.58 125,409 Owned 218,087 63,000 0 0 2,255,650 240,000 Cooke Douglass Farr…
MISSOURI
Platte City 4 B 3,955,847 3,130,036 15,638 200.16 86,163 586,520 153,128 85,000 0 0 3,955,847 0 Tognascioli & Assocs.
MONTANA
Bozeman 48 M 18,299,375 10,754,263 52,300 205.63 677,005 2,150,000 4,718,107 161,900 2,076,000 1,680,000 7,270,624 7,272,751 Overland; Studio-FORMA; Johnston
NEBRASKA
Falls City 5 M 2,809,010 2,267,567 15,000 151.17 137,309 200,000 204,134 55,000 52,000 0 1,500,000 1,257,010 Clark Enersen
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Portsmouth 21 M 9,578,327 7,703,600 39,542 194.82 844,033 Owned 1,030,694 150,000 99,000 0 8,916,419 562,908 Amsler Mashek…
NEW YORK
Cambria Hgts. 24 B 7,950,000 4,950,000 18,000 275.00 400,000 Owned 2,600,000 56,732 0 0 7,950,000 0 Kostowgreenwood
Clifton Park 52 M 15,000,000 10,391,304 55,000 188.93 1,743,826 600,000 2,264,870 250,000 0 0 15,000,000 0 Woodward, Connor…
Cold Spring 9 M 13,125,000 8,500,000 24,000 354.17 575,000 2,450,000 1,600,000 120,000 0 0 9,900,000 3,225,000 Beatty HarveyHarbor
Long Isld. City 34 B 9,700,000 7,050,000 18,000 391.67 650,000 Owned 2,000,000 41,034 0 0 9,700,000 0 Helpern Architects
New York 45 B 5,933,622 4,533,348 11,450 395.93 212,939 Leased 1,187,335 32,655 0 0 5,933,622 0 Rogers Marvel
Ossining 33 M 15,900,000 12,600,000 48,000 262.50 700,000 Owned 2,600,000 120,000 0 120,000 15,800,000 0 Beatty Harvey
NORTH CAROLINA
Cary 70 B 10,071,632 5,928,146 29,480 201.09 829,353 Owned 3,314,133 149,000 0 0 10,071,632 0 Clearscapes
Columbus 19 MS 3,984,081 2,973,000 17,783 167.18 365,000 444,081 202,000 67,500 0 0 2,316,048 1,668,033 ADW Architects, PA
Holly Springs 20 B 3,193,980 1,705,281 8,100 210.53 265,703 319,966 903,030 72,876 0 0 3,193,980 0 Little Diversified
OHIO
Canton 29 B 3,977,464 2,726,052 20,383 133.74 397,197 486,098 368,117 54,613 0 0 3,372,464 605,000 Meehan Architects
Canton 51 B 2,553,595 2,003,026 19,380 103.36 414,387 Leased 136,182 56,241 0 0 2,553,595 0 Meehan Architects
Wooster 114 M 13,147,704 8,062,842 49,000 164.55 411,600 3,104,916 1,568,346 190,000 0 0 9,061,759 4,085,945 Meehan Architects
OREGON
Estacada 18 M 3,426,750 2,009,000 12,060 166.58 75,250 186,500 1,156,000 4,300 lf. 0 0 2,200,000 1,226,750 SRG Partnership
La Grande 24 M 6,110,072 4,709,275 19,044 247.28 357,377 416,107 627,313 7,716 lf. 0 350,000 2,605,719 3,199,353 OTAK Architects
Talent 7 B 1,284,904 915,062 7,068 129.47 118,168 Owned 251,674 n/a 0 0 956,904 328,000 Skelton Straus Seibert
Tillamook 25 MS 5,254,459 3,865,660 30,000 128.86 360,000 450,000 578,799 n/a 0 0 4,260,376 994,083 Richard Turi
TEXAS
El Paso 78 M 4,680,000 3,622,122 21,500 168.47 534,193 Owned 523,685 90,000 0 0 4,680,000 0 Enviro Idea
Taylor 15 M 3,600,000 3,000,000 20,000 150.00 400,000 Owned 200,000 120,000 0 0 3,600,000 0 Komatsu Architecture
VIRGINIA
Glen Allen 68 B 13,400,000 8,615,038 40,300 213.77 3,895,336 Owned 889,626 120,000 0 0 13,400,000 0 PSA Dewberry
Hopewell 23 MS 7,510,000 6,500,000 36,000 180.56 480,000 30,000 500,000 90,000 0 0 7,510,000 0 Grimm + Parker
Lexington 4 B 819,950 563,400 5,200 108.35 101,000 10,500 145,050 25,000 575,000 0 0 286,525 Reynolds Architects
Richmond 55 B 15,840,000 9,708,734 53,000 183.16 4,078,199 Owned 2,053,067 180,000 0 0 15,840,000 0 PSA Dewberry
Shirlington*** 205 B 13,200,000 n/a 53,000 n/a 798,456 Owned 1,100,000 60,000 0 0 13,200,000 0 Lukmire Partnership
WASHINGTON
Burlington 8 M 5,970,178 4,022,656 21,629 185.98 804,260 Owned 1,143,262 7,110 lf. 0 0 5,970,178 0 Lewis Architecture
Seattle 18 B 5,360,273 3,173,176 5,652 561.43 128,305 1,513,462 545,330 18,700 0 0 3,409,974 1,950,300 Weinstein Architects
Seattle 21 B 6,223,411 3,417,741 10,000 341.77 368,277 1,864,370 573,023 40,200 0 0 1,554,570 4,668,841 Miller/Hull
Seattle 4 B 3,174,941 2,005,144 5,019 399.51 135,537 446,047 588,213 18,700 0 0 3,147,663 27,279 Johnston Architects
WEST VIRGINIA
Center Point 3 B 84,014 70,581 1,344 52.52 8,923 Owned 4,510 600 0 57,975 26,039 0 none reported
** The San Mateo project consists of a three-story building, plus 2½ levels of underground parking; the latter skews the square foot cost. Without the parking area, the square foot cost is $401.08
***A joint community project, the center includes a 15,000 square foot library along with a regional theater. Construction costs for the library alone are not available.
Symbol Code: B-Branch Library; BS-Branch & System Headquarters; M-Main Library; MS-Main & System Headquarters; S-System Headquarters; O-combined use space; n/a-not available; lf-linear feet

COMMUNITY POP IN M CODE PROJECT COST CONSTR. COST GROSS SQ. FT. SQ. FT. COST EQUIPMENT COST SITE COST OTHER COSTS VOLUMES FEDERAL FUNDS STATE FUNDS LOCAL FUNDS GIFT FUNDS ARCHITECT
ARIZONA
Phoenix 0 S