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

SEATTLE CENTRAL LIBRARY
Public Work Group- Arts Community
Meeting #1, January 11, 2000

Return to List of Meetings
Return to Libraries for All Central Library page.

  Physical space:

• Dynamic in light and movement.
• Growth- flexible; architect working with light; sundials- around the space.
• Open terraces- exterior spaces.
• Flexibility- more artists can work over time on pieces.
• City’s “portable works” collection- could it be rotated into library? (Give Seattle Arts Commission more exposure.)
• What makes the library different than a museum?
  • Free.
  • Diversity of clientele/patrons.
  • Meeting place.
Place for emerging artists to exhibit.
• Flexible spaces that can be separated out; listening rooms, OK to be visibly permeable.
• Resources different/unique from anyplace else.
• Provide information on what’s going on in arts community. Auditory examples: Can you do this on the web? But how to integrate with “real” experience?
• Need spaces to try stuff out; music, performances.
• Support newer, smaller, emerging artists.
• Opportunity for other arts organizations to inform/educate patrons of their events (i.e. ballet previews).
• Auditorium:
  • Stage deep enough for dance.
  • Video/film screening.
  • Lecture.
  • Indoor/outdoor connection.
  • Possibility to partition space for smaller presentation.
• Use library presence to focus community on topic:
  • Get people to work together.
  • Get people to think thematically about services in community.
  • Denver’s “Banned Expo” (example).
• Public Art:
  • Something “fixed”- YES.
  • Endowment for commissions over time – in the future (ongoing).
  • If for limited time presentations – people are more willing to have more experimental pieces.
• Food & drink somewhere in the library.
• Flexibility of furniture, spaces (in spaces with lots of light/open space).
• Office model: furniture on wheels, able to rearrange spaces easily.
• Light, high ceilings important.
• How artificial light is managed is key: low glare, reflections, take advantage of low light situation, use color.
• Consider how you communicate with non-english speakers.
• Not ornamental in nature (Undesirable example: Seattle Art Museum’s neon on exterior).
• Solicit pieces from the community for the collection – but around specific collection guidelines.
• Work on “being known” for some component of the collection (example: dance videos).
• Web access.
• Concept design: piece of sculpture itself; potential sculpture in the atrium?; place for people to experiment too (in the atrium)?
• Mobiles
• Inside/outside activity- horticulture (opportunity), permeable, connection to outdoors, roof garden nice but distribute throughout building.
• South Curve/Southwest Curve exterior.
• Outside/Inside concept in Children’s Area.
• Unique architecture of library.
• Public interactions with mock-ups.
• Virtual tours of architecture.
• Stairs (placement).
• Experience of entry (transition period).
• Promotion of civility among people.
• Visual ease.
• Uniqueness of departments.
• Vertical mixing chamber (see drawing attached).
• Sense of privacy.
• Sustainable use of energy.
• Art in Temporary Library.
• Floor surfaces.
• Use of Wood.
• How will building evolve? (How Buildings Learn).

Content modified: 27 March 2000

12/31/2004

© 1999-2005 - The Seattle Public Library