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More than 85 people from the community attended this meeting to discuss current schematic design for the new Ballard Library and Ballard Neighborhood Service Center. Seattle Public Library Capital Program Director Alexandra Harris started the meeting with welcoming comments and introductions of Peter Bohlin and Robert Miller from Bohlin Cywinski Jackson; Donald Fels, the artist for the Ballard Library; Library Board President Linda Larson; Val Frye, Library interim director of Neighborhood Libraries; Sibyl de Haan, Ballard Library branch manager; Pamela LaBorde and Ellen Fitzgerald, Ballard Library staff; Gloria Leonard, Library director of Library/Community Partnerships; Terry Collings, executive director of the Seattle Public Library Foundation; Monica Moravec and David Traylor from the Citizen Implementation Review Panel (CIRP); Rick Drottz, regional director of Kennedy-Wilson International (representing U.S. Bank); Lisa Cory of Swift and Co. (landscape architect); Teresa Rodriguez, of the city's Fleets and Facilities department; Rob Mattson, coordinator of the Ballard Neighborhood Service Center; and David Kunselman, Library capital projects manager for the Ballard Library. Additionally, community members of the Ballard Library Project Advisory Committee (BLPAC) were identified and asked to stand if present. Members of the BLPAC are: Michael Carsiotis, Mahlon Clements, Lynda Emel, Cynthia Felice, Dionne Haroutunian, Christy McDanold, Scott Surdyke, Paul Tomita, Harriet Towne and Thomas Whittemore.
Melanie Reynolds, director of the customer service division of the city's Department of Neighborhoods, spoke briefly about the neighborhood service center and the department's continued excitement about the project, then turned the floor over to Peter Bohlin and Robert Miller to discuss and show illustrations of current schematic design for the entire project, including the library, neighborhood service center and U.S. Bank. The public asked the following questions:
Q. Where do door/elevators come up?
A. From the garage to the outdoor "civic porch."Q. We experience strong storms from the southwest. Is the roof engineered to drain well, and how earthquake resistant is the design?
A. The design team is working with local engineers who are familiar with our climate and conditions. The building will be designed to meet earthquake design standards and there are many examples of this type of roof being successfully installed.The architects introduced Lisa Cory from Swift and Co., who spoke briefly about the landscape architecture and plans to contribute to making the area more pedestrian-friendly, and orientation of views from the library to the future park.
Donald Fels, the artist hired to work on the project, spoke about his process for developing artwork and integrating the works into the design. He discussed ideas about weather and measurement information and converting that information into art. Someone asked if Fels was the artist for the park as well. The answer is no; the city has not yet hired an artist for the park.
Q. How did you come up with a modern design since Ballard has a lot of more traditional architecture?
A. The designers said they wanted to echo aspects of the community without imitating it, as well as to address the different needs of the diverse tenants of this project. They did not want a historic style to overwhelm or limit other functional needs that reflect the complicated program, which includes the library, the neighborhood service center, U.S. Bank and a parking garage.Q. How much specificity of design is involved in the bank space, i.e., what if the bank moves and something else comes into its space?
A. The timber and "swoop" of the roof form give continuity to the design of the overall project. The space could easily be filled by another public or commercial entity if necessary.Q. Is there room in the neighborhood service center for a separate meeting room?
A. Yes, a meeting room in the neighborhood service center will accommodate 10 to 15 people. The library meeting room will accommodate 80 to 90 people.Q. How many volumes are there in the current library?
A. There will be a subtle increase in book volume, but a significant increase in the Ballard Library's collection of new periodicals, videos and other materials.Q. I'm concerned about the slope of the "porch" and feel it doesn't give a sense of enclosure and is full of "objects." Can the landscape help create a sense of place here?
A. The architects responded they populated the space with building elements and furniture to minimize the sense of sharp edges. The design will continue to evolve as the scale and subtleties are brought into focus.Other comments included:
¨ Likes the swooping roof and building textures.
¨ Soften the fortress-like meeting room, perhaps to echo the elements from the wood arcade.
¨ Regarding the landscaping, the seating on 22nd should not be just one directional.
¨ Suggest checkers/chessboard tables for the outdoor plaza, with game pieces available at the library.
¨ Have only drop-off parking on 22nd to make it pedestrian-friendly.
¨ Have shared parking spaces for the neighborhood service center and library.
Alex Harris discussed next steps for the project, saying the design process continues. She stated the Ballard Library Project Advisory Committee (BLPAC) group will meet later in May. Harris noted that June 6 was the next design presentation of schematic work to the Seattle Design Commission before design development work begins. She stated the library would be back in the community toward the end of the design development phase for another update on design of the project. Linda Larson thanked the members of the audience and said she is looking forward to the next meeting of the Ballard Library Project Advisory Committee. In response to a question, Kunselman stated plans would be available at the current library as well as on the Library's Web site at www.spl.org. Plans also are available for viewing at the current Ballard Neighborhood Service Center. In response to another question, Kunselman reminded the group that construction was slated to begin in 2003.
The meeting ended with a reminder to have people send comments
to Library staff or e-mail the capital program office at capital.program@spl.org.
The community also was encouraged to share comments about the project with members
of the BLPAC community group, who meet regularly and are in contact with capital
program staff. People also can contact capital project manager David Kunselman
at 386-4096 or by e-mail at david.kunselman@spl.org.
The meeting ended at 8:30 p.m.
Content Modified: Content Modified: 09 May 2002
12/30/2005
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