Twenty-six local architecture firms have submitted proposals in hopes of being selected to design expansions of the existing North East, Rainier Beach, Columbia City and Douglass-Truth libraries, as well as to design interior space for the new International District library. Submittals were due at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12. (See 26 Branch architect proposals received )
The building improvements are being funded through the $196.4 million "Libraries for All" bond measure that voters passed in 1998.
The 7,042-square-foot North East Library, 6801 35th Ave. N.E., was built in 1954 to serve the Wedgwood, Hawthorne Hills, and Ravenna-Bryant neighborhoods. Aside from the Central Library, North East is the busiest library in the system. The $4.6 million building renovation will feature nearly 8,000 square feet of additional space, greater seating and book collection areas, new computer workstations, more parking and a meeting room for literary programs and community events. The project was originally slated to be completed in 2003, but will be finished in 2002.
The Rainier Beach Library, 9125 Rainier Ave. S., was built in 1981. It is located in the Rainier Beach commercial area on the shores of Lake Washington. Seward Park, Pritchard Island, and the Kubota Gardens are nearby. The Rainier Beach Library improvements will include nearly 6,000 square feet in additional space, more room for books and seating, upgraded technology and a more efficient lobby and circulation desk. The $3 million expansion, originally scheduled to be finished in 2007, will be completed in 2002.
At 5,838 square feet, the Columbia City Library, 4721 Rainier Ave. S. is the smallest of the Seattle branch libraries funded by Carnegie grants. The library, which opened in 1915, serves a large number of Asian-language readers, as well as immigrants from many countries seeking materials on citizenship and English-as-a-second-language programs. The expansion will increase the building by 5,400 square feet to add more room for books, computers, seating, efficient lobby, better access for the disabled and additional parking. The $3.2 million project is slated to be completed in 2003.
The Douglass-Truth Library, 2300 E. Yesler Way, which opened its doors in 1914, is currently 8,008 square feet. The nearly 7,000-square-foot expansion will provide more space and storage for the African-American Collection, a new children's area, as well as additional seating, more room for books and additional computer work stations. The $3.5 million project will be completed in 2003.
The new 4,000-square-foot International District Library is being developed in partnership with Seattle Chinatown/International District Preservation and Development Authority. The library will be part of a five-story complex known as International District Village Square II, built between south Lane and Dearborn streets and Seventh and Eighth avenues south. The complex, scheduled to open in 2003, also will include 57 units of low-income housing, a community center, retail space, underground parking and a plaza. The library will lease the space from the Seattle Chinatown/International District Preservation and Development Authority. The library will provide seating for up to 40 patrons, capacity for a specialized collection of 12,000 books, modern technology services and equipment, access to a meeting room, and computer work stations and instruction areas. The $289,000 project is scheduled to be completed in 2002. The Seattle Public Library Foundation is raising money to increase the budget for capital costs.
Capital Program Director Alexandra Harris said that representatives from each neighborhood would join with a Library Board member and Library staff to review applications from architects. The Seattle Public Library board of trustees will make the final selection.
More information on the Library's capital program is available on the Library's Web site: www.spl.org, "Libraries for All" capital projects.
(For more information, call Andra Addison, communications director, at 206-386-4103, or andra.addison@spl.org.)
See also Architect Selection Process, Neighborhood Libraries
See also Seattle Public Library seeks architect/engineering teams... (Press release 11/15/00).Return to the list of Libraries for All press release headlines
Content modified: 18 December 2000
12/30/2005
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