The Seattle Public Library Web site now features the Office for Metropolitan Architecture's (OMA)/LMN concept proposal for the new central library, which was unveiled at a public presentation Dec. 15, 1999, at Benaroya Hall.
The 58-page document is also available in print form for review in all Seattle Public Library locations. More than 600 people attended the initial unveiling of the preliminary concept last month. Several hundred people attended an open house with the architects and Library staff two days later.
To view the proposal online, visit the Central Library page on the Libraries for All Web site (http://www.spl.org/lfa/central/central.html)
The "concept book" presents early ideas from OMA/LMN on how the different service functions of the new 355,000-square-foot downtown library might be organized on the site. The concept proposal is result of OMA/LMN's initial work with the Library's comprehensive facilities program. The facilities program is a detailed document that specifies library services, programs and collections in the new building, which was developed by Library staff, the Library Board, consultants and the public over the course of eight years. The new library will be constructed on the existing site at 1000 4th Ave. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in spring 2001. The ideas in the concept book represent six weeks of work by the design team from the Netherlands, working in partnership with local firm LMN. The design process for the central library will take two years to complete. OMA/LMN has an international reputation for creating architecture based on the functions and service expectations of the project. OMA/LMN architects have visited recently-built main libraries around the country and Europe to learn what elements in their designs have been successful, as well as problematic. In addition, 36 staff work groups and 10 public work groups have been meeting and giving recommendations to the architects for the design. Elements in the concept book have already changed based on this feedback.
"The Library Board and OMA/LMN had a commitment from the beginning to present early ideas publicly in order to give everyone an opportunity to comment and be involved in the process," said City Librarian Deborah L. Jacobs. "It is more typical for an architect to wait until there is a more completed design before presenting anything to the public. We wanted to do things differently. We wanted to share the initial concept proposal to the community. We are enthusiastic with the amount of interest and public involvement in this project and the responsiveness on the part of OMA/LMN." OMA/LMN will present its next phase of work in May. For more information or to get on a mailing list for notification, call the Capital Program Office at 206-386-4624.
(For more information, call Andra Addison, public information officer, at 206-386-4103, or andra.addison@spl.org.)
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Content modified: 27 January 2000
12/30/2005
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