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Approximately 21 people from the community attended this meeting to discuss their vision for the Magnolia Branch. The Seattle Public Library City Librarian Deborah L. Jacobs opened the meeting with welcoming comments and introductions of Library Board and staff members, and the design team, among them Jonathan Hartung, David Strauss and Bryan Cooper from Snyder Hartung Kane Strauss Architects (SHKS), designer of the Magnolia renovation; Linda Larson and Michael Parham from the Library Board; Alex Harris, capital program director; David Kunselman, capital projects manager for the Magnolia Branch; Lois Fenker and Tom Horne from the Library’s technical & collection services division; Jill Jean and Val Frye from the Library’s public services division; Emerich Hlava, Magnolia Branch manager; and Kim Baker from the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. Also in attendance were Kevin Patrick and Monica Moravec from the Citizen Implementation Review Panel; Stacy Carter, capital program office staff; and Marilyn Sheck, the Library’s director of information technology.
Jacobs explained the intent of this pre-design meeting was for members of the community to share their desires for the Magnolia Branch. Jacobs described the meeting format and explained the meeting would break into four stations on design, programs & services, collections and art. Jacobs pointed out the architects and staff members who would be at each station. Next, Jacobs turned the meeting over to trustee Linda Larson, who gave a brief history of the project and discussed the original planning that went into the 1998 bond measure. Larson stated $875,727 (adjusted for inflation) was included in the original bond for Magnolia to create a more efficient interior and upgrade technology, among other things. An additional $6 million Opportunity Fund was included in the library bond measure to allow for unanticipated needs not identified specifically in the bond. During the Opportunity Fund allocation process, $1.62 million was identified to increase square footage at the Magnolia Branch. Larson said SHKS Architects had completed a feasibility study, which identified among other things a lack of meeting room space and restrooms that are too small. The feasibility study also supports that needed changes can be accomplished with less added square footage than what was called for in the Opportunity Fund proposal. Larson turned the meeting over to SHKS Architects to talk more in-depth about the feasibility study and its findings.
Jonathan Hartung of SHKS Architects introduced David Strauss, who presented a PowerPoint presentation illustrating the design team’s research and findings to date. After quantitatively looking at the Library’s Universal Building Program (available online at http://www.spl.org/lfa/universalbranchbldgprogram/ubbpcontents.html), which details programmatic needs for 5,000-, 7,000-, 10,000-, and 15,000-square-foot branch libraries, the design team examined the implications of various square footage options and layouts for the Magnolia Branch. The design team stated any addition would need to frame the open space of this historic landmarked branch, which they described as a “library that occupies a garden.” In examining the layout of both a 1,200- and 1,800-square-foot addition, the design team stated both options had impacts to and caused loss of parking in the lot. Any loss of parking spaces triggers a traffic analysis and would require a code waiver from the Department of Planning and Development. The results of the feasibility study indicate that necessary improvements could be made with less square footage and still accomplish the addition of a generous public meeting room, expanded restrooms and improved interior layout. Capital program director Alex Harris indicated the Library would conduct a transportation study of branch users to determine how patrons arrive at the branch, which will inform the process.
Members of the public asked questions of various staff members and architects:
Q. If the branch addition is 1,200 square feet, how big would the meeting
room be? What if the branch addition is 1,800 square feet?
A. With a 1,200-square-foot addition, the meeting room would be approximately
600 square feet, with seating for 50-60, comfortably. An 1,800-square-foot
addition could include uses besides the meeting room. There will be a balance
among the size of the addition, the loss of parking and the loss of open space.
At this point in the project, we are looking to determine what that balance
point is.
Q. Can the 1,800-square-foot addition outlined in the Opportunity Fund
proposal be accomplished with the $1.62 million Opportunity fund allocation?
A. The size determination in the feasibility study has not been driven
by money; we need to look at what other needs must be accomplished by the renovation.
We will be able to answer that question better further on in the process.
Q. Will the meeting room be available after hours with separate egress?
A. Per the Library’s Universal Building Program, we have accomplished
that at other branches with new construction. Although the meeting rooms are
configured to allow it, after hours use is currently not available due to operating
budget issues.
Q. Will there be a design that will help inhibit inappropriate activity
such as viewing pornography on the Internet?
A. The design will allow staff members good visual control of public areas.
Q. Where are you going to place the addition? Are there reasons for only
showing the addition at the parking lot? Why not a second story?
A. As a rule, The Seattle Public Library builds one-story branches because
the addition of a second story has direct impacts on our operating budget due
to the need to hire additional staff to address security concerns. In terms
of Magnolia, because of the site and the fact that the branch is designated
a historical landmark, placing the expansion anywhere other than the parking
lot would be extraordinarily expensive.
Q. Will you keep the brick stair along 34th Avenue West? It’s beautiful.
A. Yes; it’s landmarked and looks good besides. We will clean and
spruce it up in the renovations.
Q. Is there 1 Percent for Art on this project?.
A. Yes, and additional money was contributed by The Seattle Public Library
Foundation, so we have approximately $19,000 for art.
Meeting attendees were then invited to circulate around the room to each station and offer ideas and hopes for the library renovation. The meeting broke into four sessions on design, collections, services/programs, and art. Those sessions yielded the following comments from members of the public on their hopes and dreams for the Magnolia Branch.
DESIGN
COLLECTIONS
SERVICES/PROGRAMS/TECHNOLOGY
ART
Harris stated a summary of the meeting would be posted to the Library’s Web site and available in the branch for those unable to attend the meeting. David Kunselman, Library capital projects manager overseeing the Magnolia branch, spent a few moments recapping highlights from each breakout session. Kunselman stated blank comment forms will be available in the branch for those unable to attend the meeting. He encouraged members of the community to complete comment forms, indicating they would be shared with the design team and Library Board in order to inform the process. A binder of completed comments will also be available in the branch for all to review. Kunselman stated community member(s) are included in branch artist selections and to indicate your interest if that is something you might like to participate in.
Kunselman stated the next step will be the start of schematic design. The Library will come back to the community at the end of schematics to show design progress and hear additional feedback. Since the branch is a historical landmark, the project also will require approval by the Landmarks Preservation Board. Because of that process, we do not have a definite schedule yet, but the design team will be working on it. Design progress will also be on display in the branch. Kunselman closed the meeting by thanking the attendees for taking the time to attend, participate and express their interest in the library. Kunselman reminded everyone tonight’s comments would be shared with the Library Board, posted to the Library Web site at www.spl.org, and made available in hardcopy in the branch. Kunselman concluded the meeting by asking people to send comments to Library staff or e-mail the capital program office at capital.program@spl.org. People can also contact Kunselman at 386-4096 or by e-mail at david.kunselman@spl.org. The meeting ended at 8:30 p.m.
Content Modified: 10 August 2005
12/30/2005
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