Seattle Public Library -Libraries for All - 3rd Round BRANCH Architect Information Conference

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Capital Project Information New Central Library Neighborhood Branches Information for Architects, Consultants, Contractors & Bidders Oversight & Citizen Review Financial Summaries Archive Libraries for All Capital Program Office: capital.program@spl.org 1000 Fourth Ave. Seattle, WA 98104 206-386-4624		ARCHITECT INFORMATION CONFERENCE 3rd Round BRANCH Architect Information Conference Seattle Public Library Lee Auditorium 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, 2000 Return to Information for Architects, Contractors, and Consultants I. INTRODUCTIONS Capital Program Director Alexandra Harris made introductory comments, and introduced the following Library staff members: Frank Coulter, capital projects manager David Kunselman, capital projects manager Ray Serebrin, director of neighborhood libraries Stacy Carter, capital program assistant Capital Program Director Alexandra Harris discussed the following: There will be a lot of community and staff involvement; the community is represented and involved during the architect selection and design processes. This is the third round of branch library architect selections, and includes five branch libraries: North East, Rainier Beach, International District, Columbia and Douglass-Truth. Capital Projects Manager Frank Coulter discussed: Architect Selection Process Submittals must be received by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2000, in the Central Library 5th floor capital program office. Mail to: Alexandra Harris, capital program director, Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104. Library staff will do initial qualification screening. Architect selection advisory panel screening (the advisory panel generally is comprised of capital program office staff, community and design commission representatives, and staff from neighborhood libraries). The Library may run selection processes for more than project at a time. Interviews: Past advisory panels have interviewed three to five firms. Library Board makes selection in public session. The architect selection process will begin in January. Capital Program Director Alexandra Harris discussed: Specific Project Information Columbia City (a Carnegie library) Addition: from approximately 5,800 square feet to approximately 11,300 square feet Maximum allowable contract cost (MACC): $1.79 million (1996) Douglass-Truth Addition: from approximately 8,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet MACC: $1.81 million (1996) International District 4,000-square-foot tenant improvement in new building MACC: not available North East Addition: from approximately 7,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet MACC: $2.37 million (1996) Rainier Beach Addition: from approximately 9,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet MACC: $1.36 million (1996) Alexandra Harris reviewed commonly asked questions from the first and second Library submittals: Q. How important is library experience? It is preferred, but not required. It is preferred that someone on the team should bring experience with library furnishings and functions, but that person need not be from the prime architectural firm. Experience working on public projects is preferred. Q. What about the submittal format? Unattached letters of interest specific to each project for which you would like to be considered. 15 submittals for first project, five additional copies for each additional project for which you are submitting; i.e., if you applied for two branches, you would submit 20 copies. Q. Where to find additional information: The Library's Web site: www.spl.org, select "Libraries for All." II. QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION Q. With regard to the North East Library expansion, what are the adjacent properties? A. The expansion will be on the two parcels directly to the north of the Library. *Q. Do the two historic libraries in this round, Douglass-Truth and Columbia City, have landmark designations?* A. No. The Columbia City Library is on the National Historic Register, but neither have local landmark status. We anticipate both being submitted to the local landmarks board for consideration in the near future. The North East Library was recently submitted to the local landmarks board, which will consider the building at its December meeting. Q. Why are there differences in the MACC listed in the Library's press release & agenda? A. The figures listed in the press release reflect total project cost and are adjusted for inflation. Q. Do we anticipate a seismic study for branches? A. No. Previous seismic analysis has been conducted and will be provided to the architects selected. *Q. How important is library design experience?* A. We are not requiring library design experience, but do look for experience working on public projects. Q. Is hazardous material abatement part of this work? Has there been any predesign work on the libraries? A. Rider Hunt Ackroyd prepared a renovation, expansion, and replacement cost estimate for the Library in March 1998, which estimates that information per project. The Carnegie libraries have fairly predictable and similar problems. You may request a copy of the document by contacting the capital program office at capital.program@spl.org or (206) 386-4624. Please leave your name and address. Q. Will the program be revisited by staff? A. Library staff members already have prepared a Universal Branch Building Program document for 5,000-, 10,000- and 15,000-square-foot branch libraries. That document is available on our Web site at www.spl.org. We use this document and adapt it to the needs of each neighborhood. This document also is one of the reasons we do not request prior library design experience since it articulates our specific functional goals for branch libraries. Q. Does the Columbia City Library expansion encroach on the adjacent park land? A. The Park District deeded the library property to the library. We would expect not to need to make any encroachments on the park property to expand the library. *Q. Who owns the alley at the Douglass-Truth Library?* A. There is no public alley at the site. The property behind the library belongs to the library up to the adjacent residential uses. *Q. Will the library stay open during the work?* A. Except for the Central Library, we do not have separate budgets to operate temporary branch libraries at alternate locations during construction. The library will evaluate this issue by project. We will look at how far away library services will be available, the possible use of bookmobiles, and any other alternatives that provide for continuing library services. *Q. Can we anticipate any changes in project square footage?* A. No Q. How important is it to identify the full design team in our submittals? A. The focus of our selection will be on the architects; you may identify other subconsultants if you have chosen who to work with on the project or if the affiliations are important to explain the strengths of your team to accomplish the project. *Q. How many community representatives will be involved in the selection process?* A. Two or three. The advisory panel also includes Library and capital program staff and usually someone from the design commission. *Q. Are you intending the 254 form to include subcontractors?* A. You do not have to complete the information for subcontractors at the time of submittal. You can provide that information later. *Q. When will the South Park and Sand Point libraries be built?* A. Original projects listed in the Libraries for All Capital Plan book are the first priority. The South Park and Sand Point libraries and other projects funded by the Opportunity Fund will be fit into the schedule later so that they will not delay any other projects. *Q. Where is the property for the Rainier Beach expansion?* A. It is the land and parking lot of the current Rainier Beach Library. Q. Why are there no plans for two-story libraries? Will any of the new branches be two-story? A. The layout and resulting operating costs make building two-story branch libraries prohibitive. The new Capitol Hill Library includes a second-story mezzanine for a neighborhood service center, meeting rooms and rest rooms, and is the only branch currently planned with a partial second floor. III. CONCLUSION Capital Program Director Alexandra Harris concluded the meeting shortly after 2:10 p.m., and said the sign-up sheet information and the Q&A would be posted to the Library Web site within the next few days. Content modified: 7 December 2000 12/30/2005 © 1999-2006 - The Seattle Public Library

ARCHITECT INFORMATION CONFERENCE
3rd Round BRANCH Architect Information Conference

Seattle Public Library
Lee Auditorium
1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, 2000

Return to Information for Architects, Contractors, and Consultants

I. INTRODUCTIONS

Capital Program Director Alexandra Harris made introductory comments, and introduced the following Library staff members:

Frank Coulter, capital projects manager

David Kunselman, capital projects manager

Ray Serebrin, director of neighborhood libraries

Stacy Carter, capital program assistant

Capital Program Director Alexandra Harris discussed the following:

There will be a lot of community and staff involvement; the community is represented and involved during the architect selection and design processes.
This is the third round of branch library architect selections, and includes five branch libraries: North East, Rainier Beach, International District, Columbia and Douglass-Truth.

Capital Projects Manager Frank Coulter discussed:

Architect Selection Process

Submittals must be received by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2000, in the Central Library 5th floor capital program office. Mail to: Alexandra Harris, capital program director, Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104.

Library staff will do initial qualification screening.

Architect selection advisory panel screening (the advisory panel generally is comprised of capital program office staff, community and design commission representatives, and staff from neighborhood libraries). The Library may run selection processes for more than project at a time.

Interviews: Past advisory panels have interviewed three to five firms.

Library Board makes selection in public session.

The architect selection process will begin in January.

Capital Program Director Alexandra Harris discussed:

Specific Project Information

Columbia City (a Carnegie library) Addition: from approximately 5,800 square feet to approximately 11,300 square feet Maximum allowable contract cost (MACC): $1.79 million (1996)

Douglass-Truth Addition: from approximately 8,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet MACC: $1.81 million (1996)

International District 4,000-square-foot tenant improvement in new building MACC: not available

North East Addition: from approximately 7,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet MACC: $2.37 million (1996)

Rainier Beach Addition: from approximately 9,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet MACC: $1.36 million (1996)

Alexandra Harris reviewed commonly asked questions from the first and second Library submittals:

Q. How important is library experience?

It is preferred, but not required.

It is preferred that someone on the team should bring experience with library furnishings and functions, but that person need not be from the prime architectural firm.

Experience working on public projects is preferred.

Q. What about the submittal format?

Unattached letters of interest specific to each project for which you would like to be considered.

15 submittals for first project, five additional copies for each additional project for which you are submitting; i.e., if you applied for two branches, you would submit 20 copies.

Q. Where to find additional information:

The Library's Web site: www.spl.org, select "Libraries for All."

II. QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION

Q. With regard to the North East Library expansion, what are the adjacent properties?
A. The expansion will be on the two parcels directly to the north of the Library.

Q. Do the two historic libraries in this round, Douglass-Truth and Columbia City, have landmark designations?
A. No. The Columbia City Library is on the National Historic Register, but neither have local landmark status. We anticipate both being submitted to the local landmarks board for consideration in the near future. The North East Library was recently submitted to the local landmarks board, which will consider the building at its December meeting.

Q. Why are there differences in the MACC listed in the Library's press release & agenda?
A. The figures listed in the press release reflect total project cost and are adjusted for inflation.

Q. Do we anticipate a seismic study for branches?
A. No. Previous seismic analysis has been conducted and will be provided to the architects selected.

Q. How important is library design experience?
A. We are not requiring library design experience, but do look for experience working on public projects.

Q. Is hazardous material abatement part of this work? Has there been any predesign work on the libraries?
A. Rider Hunt Ackroyd prepared a renovation, expansion, and replacement cost estimate for the Library in March 1998, which estimates that information per project. The Carnegie libraries have fairly predictable and similar problems. You may request a copy of the document by contacting the capital program office at capital.program@spl.org or (206) 386-4624. Please leave your name and address.

Q. Will the program be revisited by staff?
A. Library staff members already have prepared a Universal Branch Building Program document for 5,000-, 10,000- and 15,000-square-foot branch libraries. That document is available on our Web site at www.spl.org. We use this document and adapt it to the needs of each neighborhood. This document also is one of the reasons we do not request prior library design experience since it articulates our specific functional goals for branch libraries.

Q. Does the Columbia City Library expansion encroach on the adjacent park land?
A. The Park District deeded the library property to the library. We would expect not to need to make any encroachments on the park property to expand the library.

Q. Who owns the alley at the Douglass-Truth Library?
A. There is no public alley at the site. The property behind the library belongs to the library up to the adjacent residential uses.

Q. Will the library stay open during the work?
A. Except for the Central Library, we do not have separate budgets to operate temporary branch libraries at alternate locations during construction. The library will evaluate this issue by project. We will look at how far away library services will be available, the possible use of bookmobiles, and any other alternatives that provide for continuing library services.

Q. Can we anticipate any changes in project square footage?
A. No

Q. How important is it to identify the full design team in our submittals?
A. The focus of our selection will be on the architects; you may identify other subconsultants if you have chosen who to work with on the project or if the affiliations are important to explain the strengths of your team to accomplish the project.

Q. How many community representatives will be involved in the selection process?
A. Two or three. The advisory panel also includes Library and capital program staff and usually someone from the design commission.

Q. Are you intending the 254 form to include subcontractors?
A. You do not have to complete the information for subcontractors at the time of submittal. You can provide that information later.

Q. When will the South Park and Sand Point libraries be built?
A. Original projects listed in the Libraries for All Capital Plan book are the first priority. The South Park and Sand Point libraries and other projects funded by the Opportunity Fund will be fit into the schedule later so that they will not delay any other projects.

Q. Where is the property for the Rainier Beach expansion?
A. It is the land and parking lot of the current Rainier Beach Library.

Q. Why are there no plans for two-story libraries? Will any of the new branches be two-story?
A. The layout and resulting operating costs make building two-story branch libraries prohibitive. The new Capitol Hill Library includes a second-story mezzanine for a neighborhood service center, meeting rooms and rest rooms, and is the only branch currently planned with a partial second floor.

III. CONCLUSION

Capital Program Director Alexandra Harris concluded the meeting shortly after 2:10 p.m., and said the sign-up sheet information and the Q&A would be posted to the Library Web site within the next few days.

Content modified: 7 December 2000

12/30/2005

ARCHITECT INFORMATION CONFERENCE 3rd Round BRANCH Architect Information Conference

ARCHITECT INFORMATION CONFERENCE
3rd Round BRANCH Architect Information Conference