The Seattle Public Library board of trustees selected an architect and site plan for the Northgate Branch, an artist for the Montlake Branch and revised the Columbia Branch budget at its March 25 meeting. The board also announced the new Central Library will open in 2004.
The Seattle Public Library currently has 17 active building projects under way, all funded by the 1998 voter-approved “Libraries for All” bond measure, with additional support from The Seattle Public Library Foundation.
At tonight’s regular meeting, the board selected The Miller/Hull Partnership to design the new $5.1 million Northgate Branch. The Seattle-based architectural firm was among four firms that a community advisory panel interviewed. The advisory panel unanimously recommended The Miller/Hull Partnership for the 10,000-square-foot project.
The Miller/Hull Partnership also will design the $8.2 million, 20,000-square-foot community center and the $4.4 million, 1.67-acre park that Seattle Parks and Recreation will build on the site.
In addition to selecting the architect, the board chose one of two site plans for the Northgate site. The site plan approved provides surface parking. The alterative plan, which included below-grade structured parking, cost significantly more than what has been budgeted.
With the completion of the Montlake Branch Artist Advisory Panel’s work, the board approved the panel’s recommendation of Rebecca Cummins as the public artist for the new Montlake Branch. Cummins’ work invites “user participation and interpretation of the immediate visual surroundings,” said Justine Kim, project manager for the Montlake Branch. “The panel was impressed with Cummins’ combination of creativity and inventiveness in her ability to interpret each specific project in a unique and varied approach.”
The board also added $265,985 to the Columbia Branch budget to fund changes to the design of the 5,595-square-foot expansion to make it more harmonious and respectful to the existing historic building. The additional funds will also pay for new mechanical and electrical systems for the entire building, which was not anticipated in the original budget. The budget is now $3.5 million.
In addition, the board announced that the Central Library will open in the first quarter of 2004. The board had hoped the dramatic new building, designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, would be ready by the end of 2003. The board said it hopes to set an opening date after the steel installation is complete, which likely will be in May. No additional funding from the city will be sought for the Central Library, or branch projects. “Progress is continuing well on the Central Library site,” said City Librarian Deborah L. Jacobs. “Installation of the glass should begin soon.” For updated images of the library, visit http://www.spl.org/lfa/index.html and select “Construction Photos.”
(For more information, call Andra Addison, communications director, at 206-386-4103.)
Return to the Libraries for All capital projects page
Return to the list of Libraries for All press release headlines
Content modified: 26 March 2003
12/30/2005
© 1999-2006 - The Seattle Public Library