thesis booklet-research
DESCRIPTION
Summary of first quarter work of Senior Project at Cal Poly PomonaTRANSCRIPT
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s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | a b s t r a c ti
a b s t r a c t
It has become quite clear that the traditional setting and uses of the common library
have changed dramatically over the past couple of decades. The library used to be a place
where one would go to study, find certain literary documents, or even just to visit in one’s lei-
sure time. In the not so distant past, libraries were considered to be the heart of most cities
as well as educational institutions, and are known as facilities that keep record of our known
human civilization. Obviously these are very important aspects to any society, and to invest in
what are cultural institutions filled with knowledge, wisdom and a world of possibilities, is only
the most logical and most sensible decision any person can make.
The architectural design process of the library has morphed over the last century,
always with a strong input from library users, librarians, civic officials, and architects, but
always with a heavy concentration on the exterior representation of such an institution. With
new architectural expressions and features that have come out of this process through many
different library projects, there has been a change in the functions and values of the public
library, almost always initiated by the forms of its built environment. Even though these have
been positive steps towards finding the new purpose of the modern day library, it is now time
for the process to go beyond this step, allowing for the institution to reasses, reconsider or
reaffirm what its values are as an institutional identity. The physical embodiment of the public
library should reflect the ideas and values that the contemporary library has established. This
is a critical and vital point in pur society, especially since the large urban centers that are
increasing exponentially are becoming increasingly commercialized. The library in many city
centers is the last universally accessible public space left for a large portion of the populat-
ion. The public library was once a vital public institution, and we must as a society bring that
same relevance back to one of our cultural cornerstones.
Today, libraries have changed in that they are more dynamic with the introduction
of digital media, and a substantial amount of this information is now available to anyone on
their private computers. Even though having all this information is useful, there is still a need
to train the average user on how to acquire and analyze the information found in libraries, and
what better place to do this than at the source. Libraries in our modern society need to take
on new functions as well as adapting old ones. At the same time, there is a materiality to cer-
tain media and experiences that just cannot be evolved into the digital environment, and the
quality and respect of these artifacts need to be kept intact. Despite all of the facts and data a
library has and maintains, the library still needs to be a place where the mind can wander into
places that can only be imagined. As the Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero once said,
“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”
ii
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | t a b l e o f c o n t e n t siii
t a b l eo f c o n t e n t s
page
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abstract ii
project description 1
backgound 5
case studies 11
expert witness accounts 17
project requirements 23
research findings 27
site assessment 31
conclusion 37
annotated bibliography 41
appendix 45
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | p r o j e c t d e s c r i p t i o n1
Figure 1: Library user sitting on top of book shelves
2
1p r o j e c t d e s c r i p t i o n
There are many pre-conceptions about what a library is and what users of the libra-
ry do. Even though these might quite often be correct, there needs to be a change in mental-
ity in the general society so that the library can take on new functions in order to bring in a
larger audience. Additionally, new functions will bring about the need to alter programmatic
elements in a library which will encourage its users to frequent the library more often, which
will in turn create more attention for the facility not only in the community, but in other aspects
as well, such as tourism. People need to have the ability to access a library, no matter what
economic or social background they come from, and in order for this to take place, there
needs to be a well developed plan of infrastructure in and around a library. Multiple means of
transportation need to be addressed so that accessibility does not become an issue, as well
as providing spaces and experiences within the library that will entice people to come and
use the facility on a regular basis. Many times, a library reflects the economic power of the
community it is located within, but a central library branch needs to create the same luxuries
that a financially well-off community night have, for everyone else to use as well.
Due to the magnitude of a project such as a central library, it is clear that the effects
of this type of building will be made not only on the immediate surroundings of the library, but
also on the views and feelings people from outside the local community have on the city. Th-
ere are certain institutions and building types that tend to define the feeling of a city, and this
is done more often than not with certain architectural features and planning strategies. It is
crucial that a project such as this library reflect the overall feeling of place and identity of the
city it is in and the people it serves. People tend to want to feel a sense of pride of the places
they reside in, and the central library nneds to further develop the pride and respect its pe-
ople have for their community.
This proposal intends to further develop and revitalize a city that is already on its
way to finalizing its identity, and this project should help solidify this. There are two main ob-
jectives that this proposal should look to accomplish, which are to to create a facility that will
serve the educational community with its 21st century needs, but also create a city landmark
that its people will be proud of, as well as becoming part of the framework that will represent
the city on the national and international stage.
This new central library needs to fulfill multiple roles in addition to being a place for
storage of reading materials and information. This facility will serve as a new civic icon which
shall emobdy the city’s commitment not only to its existing community, but to future generat-
ions as well. With the use of architectural strategies, the library will become a new regional
center for learning and literacy, and will be a community gathering place where people from
around the city and world can celebrate reading, culture, music, art as well as providing an
environment where the community can discuss critical issues . It is clear that a central libra-
ry is a primary cultural and educational resource, but it must also embrace and celebrate the
central civic role of a modern library. This also entails the responsibility of becoming a link to
other educational and physical amenities that a city has to offer, and should look to promote
all of these to current residents as well as foreigners.
Another important aspect of the modern day library that this project will attempt to
address is that of the library’s growing competition from the private sector, which has been
one of the sources of the decline of frequency of visits by users to the public library. It is
clear that the existence of commercial spaces outside the library such as bookstores have
taken away potential patrons of the library. This is partly due to the extensive amount and
types of additional amenities and environments these privately owned, profit-seeking stores
offer. Many of these places are conveniently located in their communities, usually close to
large shopping and retail destinations. This project will look to find a site suitable to compete
with these type of retail spaces, thus adding to the definition of the common library. Along
with the educational and civic roles it must now play, it will also need to become a commerc-
ial institution, which consequently means bringing new and exciting experiences in order to
attract old and new visitors to the library. More than anything, it will become a multipurpose
institution that is willing to adapt to the transformation of its users and the materials it houses,
which in turn means that its planning and architectural features must demonstrate the library’s
flexibility in this contemporary setting.
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | p r o j e c t d e s c r i p t i o n3
Figure 2: Children listening to a storyteller in a dedicated space for elementary readers.
Figure 3: Libraries need to offer spaces for study groups.
4 Of course, taking the design of a library such as this project in that direction means
that certain protocols will not be followed, and the ones that are kept might be skewed in order
to fit the project into the proper context. The architectural traditions and vocabulary that have
most usually defined the library in the last century should be re-evaluated and at times
disregarded in order to ensure that the new concepts of the library are explored and seen th-
rough. The traditional views and conceptions of the library by the casual user tend to be the
feelings that the architecture and spaces are extremely formal and at times serious, which
many times drives the user to feel insecure, uncomfortable, and coming in to the library might
feel particularly daunting. The library should be none of these things, but instead should be
welcoming and create a sense of comfort where readers and researchers of all backgrounds
can come together for the better of themselves and the community.
The ultimate goal of this project is to create a successful environment that can spur
the rejuvenation of an urban space, and further that which has already been put into place.
With this being met, it will create an effect on its users and its surrounding educational,
cultural, civic, and commercial communities. With so much change being proposed to the
staus quo in this project, it would be logical to assume that there would be opposition to it.
This would be incorrect though, since organizations such as the Public Library Association
have already agreed that the change is imminent and should be encouraged. This same
Public Library Association published The Public Library Mission Statement and Its Imperat-
ives for Service, where it layouts certain guidelines for what the institution should be:
(1) a nontraditional education agency mediating between the individual and
the record, (2) a cultural agency fostering creativity, enjoyment of literature
and the arts, and appreciation for America’s pluralistic culture, (3) an inform-
ation agency, and (4) a rehabilitation agency aiding handicapped persons to
reach their full potential
These of course are just guidelines, but will be followed in order to add to the continuity of
other libraries around the country. In addition to this, this project will react and incorporate
aspects of the city it represents, and the people it will ultimately benefit and serve.
Cashier/Book shelves
Cafe/Coffee Shop
Indoor Seating/Reading area
Outdoor Seating/Reading area
Figure 4: Typical bookstore layout which incorporates spaces for relaxation and interaction.
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | b a c k g r o u n d5
Figure 5: Opening of San Diego Library in 1954.
6
San Diego has seen a revitalization of its downtown district over the past decade,
and it has become a place filled with brand new luxurious condominiums, an attractive night-
ife environment, a premiere shopping and retail destination, and one of the most well-known
tourist attractions in the United States. Even though this trend has taken off, most San Diegans
are quite aware that the downtown area was not always so exciting and significant. It used to
be a place most of its citizens would stay away from, with the majority of San Diego county
residents sharing the feeling that the area was just dark and gloomy, with a large homeless
population. This has dramatically changed, and this has been brought around due to various
reasons and revitalization efforts.
One of the first projects in downtown San Diego was Horton Plaza, which was desi-
gned by the well-known architect Jon Jerde in the mid 1980’s. It was a brand new concept
in mall design, and was seen to be a risky decision for its developers at the time of its const-
ruction. It ignored all of the standard planning practices and design guidelines for the typical
mall, and in the end it turned out to be a great success. This project re-evalutaed the values
and principles behind the mall and the shopping experience it offered, and consequently the
architectural features and planning strategies that were put in place were directly affected by
the research. This same concept should be put in place by the new central San Diego Public
Library, since the idea and institution of the common library is being redefined.
Another project that helped in the revitalization of dowtown San Diego is that of the
Petco Park stadium, home to the professional Major League Baseball team, the San Diego
Padres. The stadium first opened in 2004 and was situated within the East Village community
2b a c k g r o u n d
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | b a c k g r o u n d7
Figure 6 (Upper left): Jon Jerde’s Horton Plaza, Figure 7 (lower left): Gaslamp Quarter Historic District, Firgure 8 (right): Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres.
8downtown. The ballpark began to stimulate other local businesses, especially in the famous
historical Gaslamp Quarter, which began to give the dowtown a new fabric of patrons, visitors,
as well as residents to work with. This new central public library will only add to this new
vision of the downtown environment, and will be the cultural hub of the region.
The current central library is located in downtown San Diego, but is in dire need of
rennovation. The library was initially constructed in 1954, and is located on the north side of
E Street between Eight and Ninth Streets, and is roughly 145,000 square feet gross, of which
only 45,300 net square feet is accessible to the public. A common measure by which library
facilities are measured is the square footage per capita. San Diego’s current central library
provides 0.11 square foot per capita, in comparison to the average of 30 central libraries
serving the largest urban areas, which is 0.42 square foot. These numbers have been grabb-
ing the attention of city officials from as far back as 1971, when the city adopted a General
Plan which was a confirmed in the 1977 Master Plan for the San Diego Public Library. When
the library first opened its doors, it was intended to support a population of 466,000 people.
This represented an average of 3.9 citizens of the community per one net square foot of library
area. Since that time, the population of the city of San Diego has increased at an average rate
of 2.2%, to the current population of 1,223,400. In order to keep pace with this increase in po-
pulation and readership, the library should have correspondingly increased by 2.3% per year,
which is a composite increase of 174%) to a new current baseline of nearly 320,000 net square
feet. There were plans to make additions to the current library if needed with an additional two
floors, but changes in the City of San Diego Building Code prohibit construction of additional
floors without bringing the entire building into compliance with the current code. This of course
would substantially increase the amount of money needed to rennovate the existing library, and
so the decision was made to construct a brand new facility. Theexisting library is now over a
half-century old, and the need for a new facility is more prevalent than ever.
Architectural plans for a new central library for San Diego were completed in the mid
1990’s when an international design competition was held, and was won by local architect Rob
Quigley, FAIA. Due to financial constraints placed on the city, construction of the facility has
been postponed for 15 years, with the initial groundbreaking taking place in the summer of
2010. Funding has been achieved by outreach from the city’s officials as well as by the San
Diego Public Library Foundation, who convinced large local corporations and prominent local
businessmen to invest in the project. Even though the brand new facility proposed by Rob
Quigley is a step in the right direction, it is clear that they are outdated. In an ever changing
landscape and society, one must question the capabilities of this new facility. This is why the
project I am proposing will be up to date, and will seek to give a completely different outlook on
Figure 9: The current library, built in the 1950’s, is in very bad condition.
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | b a c k g r o u n d9
Figure 10: Example of new developments in the downtown San Diego area.
10what a landmark library for San Diego should truly be. Great cities have been said to be defin-
ed by their great civic spaces, and the library project that I am proposing will go beyond that
of just a civic institution, but instead adding programmatic elements that will encourage the
library to become an educational, economic, and cultural institution. Only this view of the libr-
ary will create a place where people from around the city and the county of San Diego can
come and experience the revitalized downtown, and a place where tourists from around the
world will be attracted to due to its uniqueness in planning and design.
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | c a s e s t u d i e s11
Figure 11: OMA’s Seattle Public Library.
12
Case Study: Seattle Public Library
Location: Seattle, Washington, United States
Architect: Rem Koolhaas, OMA Office of Metropolitan Architecture
The Seattle Public Library was designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, and
is known as one of the most successful libraries in the world not only for its extravagant arch-
itectural form, but also for its structural integrity, planning, and functional uses. One of the key
planning features of the project is its meaning and approach to flexibility within the program-
matic elements. In other libraries around the country, architects have taken the approach of
of creating floors and spaces where almost any library activity can happen, at the expense
of these individual spaces not being able to take on their own unique character. Koolhass’
approach was quite different, where he decided that the most plausible strategy would be
to divide and allocate certain activities and program to certain spatial compartments through-
out the building. Koolhass describes this concept by saying that “flexibililty can exist within
each section, but not at the expense of any of the other compartments... change is possible
by deliberately redefining use, rededicating compartments to new programs.” Not only do all
the spaces and programmatic clusters have their own formal identity, they are also unique in
their size, cirulaction, palette, structure, flexibility, and MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plum-
bing). All of the transition spaces that get users from one cluster to the other serve as a kind
of platform where librarians can interact with patrons and stimulate the experiences offered.
3c a s e s t u d i e s
One of the driving forces behind the project came out of the recently realized fact
that the contents of an entire library can now be stored on a single computer chip, or that
even now a single library can digitally store the content of all the libraries of the world. This
of course brings a brand new view on what the library stands for, and the potential for a buil-
ding type such as this is infinite. No longer is the architect held back in design by certain fea-
tures that a library use to need. In the case of the Seattle Public Library, Koolhaas was able
to make other elements important to function and form such as the views the site has out to
the surroundings of Elliot Bay, Mount Rainer, and the Interstate 5 in Seattle. With this in mind,
Koolhaas divided the building into eight horizontal layers that shift and fold over each other
with its structural steel and glass skin, which in the end creates the unifying feature of the
entire building. This allows each of the spaces to have its uniqueness, but do not let the unity
the building fall apart formally.
The total square footage of the library totals up to 412,000 sf (38.300 m2) of the ce-
ntral library, which includes 363,000 sf (33.700 m2) of headquarters, reading room, book
spiral, mixing chamber, meeting platform, living room, staff floor, children’s collection and
auditorium, and 49,000 sf (4.600 m2) of parking. Needless to say, the size of the building
allows for many uses and events, and also gives the community enough space for future
expansion in its collections. The Seattle Public Library building has been the recipient of
many rewards such as the American Institute of Architects(AIA) Honor Award for Architecture,
and the AIA/ALA Library Buildings of Excellence. The total original bid cost was set at $111.9
million, which meant $272 per square foot which included the demolition of the existing build-
ing on the site, other infrastructure improvements on the site, contractor general conditions,
furnishings such as bookcases, and of course taxes, overhead and profit.
From a technical standpoint, the design of OMA needed to be well thought out,
since a floating effect wanted to be achieved from the outside by leaving the platforms unsu-
pported at the corners of the building. The idea was to minimize the number of columns along
the edges to make the platforms appear floating. With this put in place, the cantilevering
provided for structural efficiency, which ultimately reduced load stresses along the middle of
deep box trusses that run around the perimeter of each platform. Additionally, the other defi-
ning feature of the building being the all-glass facades, were another challenge since books
and visitors needed protection from direct sunlight. Koolhass answer to this problem was
solved by creating an expanded aluminum mesh layed in between plates of insulated glass,
which would deflect 90% of sunlight, but allowing clear views to the outside.
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | c a s e s t u d i e s13
Figure 12: East-west section cut through Seattle Public Library.
Figure 13: Floor plan of the third level of the Seattle Public Library.
14
Figure 14: Architectural model of the Salt Lake City Public Library.
Figure 15: Floorplan of the Salt Lake City Public Library.
Case Study: Salt Lake City Public Library
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Architect: Moshe Safdie, FAIA Safdie Architects
The Salt Lake City Public Library was built in 2003, and is a five-story tall building that
houses 240,000 square feet (22,300 m2) of usable space. The library’s most telling feature is
its curved glass wall, which looks out on to a landscaped and paved plaza, which is known as
the Library Square. The structure is mostly concrete, with 44,960 cubic yards (34,370m3) of
concrete used along with 176,368 square feet (16,385 m2) of glass. The materials selected by
Safdie are directly related to the climate of the region, with these being able to maximize the
amount of sunlight in the building along with creating a comftorable environment.
When a user enters the building, they will initially go underground and come into a
large enclosed space that receives a large amount of sunlight. On this first floor, there is space
for reading as well as an added programmatic element that includes commercial space for
specialty stores, which are located under the large crescent wall. This large crescent wall also
serves a secondary function, which is a walkable structure that leads users from the Library
Square up to the rooftop garden, a sustainable feature that also maximizes the square footage
of usable space. This rooftop space offers a 360 degree view of the Salt Lake Valley and
stunning views of the Wasatch Mountains. The interior of the curved glass wall which embraces
the public plaza with its shops and service areas at the ground level, is also where Safdie ch-
ose to place the reading galleries as well as the auditorium. Because of the large amount of
natural light that is introduced into all of the spaces, Safdie needed to pay careful attention to
ensure that library materials such as books and computers were not over exposed. Where there
is a need for them, the clear glass that is used has the highest UV rating available for energy
efficiency. Indirect lighting fixtures are used when there is a need to reduce the glare on objects
such as computer screens and book pages.
Another one of the defining features of the Salt Lake City Library comes from the plan-
ning strategy used in the floorplans and furnishing layouts. As a user accesses the upper floors,
the spaces become less active and the noise is significantly reduced. The bottom floors are
used for more public activities and events, while the upper floors are study-oriented for the more
avid readers and researchers. All of the floors look out to the public plaza, which is supposed to
encourage civic engagement. Some of the more telling characteristics of the plaza include the
granite water wall and reflecting pool, which provide a cooler atmosphere in contrast to the
hot Utah summer sun.
One of the most interesting and innovative programmatic spaces that the Salt Lake
City Library has is the Browsing Library. This space is located on the first floor and is used
as the library’s popular section, which are books and media considered to be the most
current and in high demand. Many of the librarians tend to stay in this space in order to help
visitors and patrons of the library in finding what they need, and also discussing their reading
interests in order to guide and introduce readers to new authors and subject areas. Adjacent
to this space is the cafe, which is an element most commercial bookstores have incorporated
into their designs. The cafe at the Salt Lake library is a place where people can relax or
engage and interact with fellow users, which tends to be a very successful environment since
the library is located in a very activated and busy downtown district.
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | c a s e s t u d i e s15
Figure 16: Interior view of the Salt Lake City Public Library.
Figure 17: Site plan of the Minneapolis Central Public Library.
Case Study: Minneapolis Central Public Library
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Architect: Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
The Minneapolis Central Public Library was completed in May of 2006, and has a
total square footage of 365,000 square feet and a total project cost of $138.7 million. It is loc-
ated in downtown Minneapolis, and has served as a cultural center for the city as well as a
civic landmark and soure of community pride that has spurred a very successful economic
stimulation in the region. With the theater district, arts district, and shopping district located
around its immediate surroundings, the library in itself has become a premier downtown dest-
ination in Minneapolis. The form of the building follows the grid of the streets, which is why in
plan one bloc of the building follows the geometry of the west grid, while the other block of
the building shifts a bit and runs completely parallel to the eastern grid.
The Minneapolis library was designed succefully to the extent that it now houses the
third largest public library collection per capita of any major city in the United States, and
almost 100% of its collection is accessible to the public, which compares to the 15% available
in Minneapolis’ previous library facility. Many of the spaces created in this new facility are loft-
like in nature, due to the raised floors which are encouraged by the non-existence of interioir
load-bearing walls. The idea behind this was to allow and easily accommodate future changes
in the library that deal with expansion, technology, and spatial layouts.
16
Figure 18: Interior view of Minneapolis Central Public Library.
Figure 19: Exterior view of the Minneapolis Central Library.
The library also implements many sustainable features, with the roof garden being
the most prevalent of them. It is 18,560 square feet in size, and has been incorporated to enh-
ance stormwater management practices as well as reducing the urban heat island effect. It is
planted with vegetation that can thrive in Minneapolis’ harsh climate, with low-growing succu-
lent and bedrock prairie plants being the most appropriate. All of these features allow the
roof to require low maintenance, and structurally in incredibly light in weight. Other factors that
the green roof contribute to is that it conserves energy by reducing the library’s cooling and
heating loads, it adds green space to a cityscape in dire need of open space, increases the
longevity of the roof system, and ultimately promotes a clean city environment for future proj-
ects to emulate. Also, the patterned glazing system on the glass walls tend to minimize the
amount of solar gain on three of the building’s facades, which also creating interesting lighting
inside of the adjacent spaces.
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | e x p e r t w i t n e s s a c c o u n t s17
Figure 20: Rendering of imaginative professional consultants.
18
Name: Charlie Goldberg
Title: Marketing Director, San Diego Public Library Foundation
Location: San Diego, California, United States
*Note: All accounts are paraphrased with expert witness’ consent
Question: What does your job entail and how have you been involved with the
Central San Diego Library Project?
I have been working with the San Diego Public Library Foundation for the last three years, and
I have actively participated in the downtown library project since I have been the marketing
director. Part of my job is finding ways of securing funds for the construction of the new library
facility, as well as for being able to continue the running costs once the facility becomes open
to the public. In order to attain funding for this project, we have reached out to the community
to find volunteers who with our help, visit local commpanies and businesses to gain corporate
partners for the project.
Question: Why has it taken so long for San Diego to get the library project done?
The library project has been 30 years in the making, and many people from all backgrounds
and regions have put in their two cents to help make this project a reality. Unfortunately, the
4e x p e r t w i t n e s s a c c o u n t s
process has been dragged out due to financial constraints and the priorities put in place by
the city council and other government officials. Around the time the design of the project was
chosen to be Rob Quigley’s, the issue of building a new stadium for the San Diego Padres
was brought up, and all attention was put on making that happen. The library had been a
priority for the city for a while, but in 1998 the Padres made it to the World Series and created
an exciting atmosphere for citizens in the city, which pushed momentum toward a new ballp-
ark, but unfortunately away from the central library project. In a way though, the ballpark do-
wntown has stimulated the businesses and revitalization efforts in the area, which has created
a very live and exciting environment for the library to thrive in.
Question: What role has the San Diego City council played in the library project?
The city council has always been pressured by the community to approve the library project
and to find funding for it. It was finally able to secure the funding needed for the project with
help from the San Diego Public Library Foundation, with this last donation totaling in almost
$40 million. One of the other organizations that has played an important part in this process
is the Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC), which is a quasi-public organization
that has been charged with overlooking any downtown redevelopment plans. They try to
control the growth and revitalization of the area, and also try to quantify and qualify the needs
of the region.
Question: Has the original architect stuck with the project throughout the process?
Rob Quigley is the architect of record, and he has been one of the project’s strongest suppo-
rters, and has been advocating for it over the past 10-15 years. He has made himself availab-
le over the years to speak for free at many events in order to make the library project happen,
and his love for the city of San Diego has been crucial throughout the entire process. No
architect that did not have a sense of care and passion for the city and the project would have
lasted this long. We believe that Quigley’s design offers the city the most successful design,
and an opportunity to further develop and revitalize the area, as well as creating a state-of-
the-art environment for the library, its users, and its employees. The most important thing is
that the project will now happen, because the need for a new facility was extreme, and it
was imperative and crucial to get an architect behind the project that understood the situat-
ion as well.
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | e x p e r t w i t n e s s a c c o u n t s19
Figure 21: Architect Rob Quigley, FAIA at the groundbreaking ceremony of San Diego Library.
Figure 22: Exterior view of the San Diego City Hall building.
20
Figure 23: Librarian speaking with children about electronic media materials.
Question: What are some of the more marketable features your organization is
looking for in the library design?
Probably the most important feature would be adaptibility, since we do not want to go through
the same situation we had over the past 50 years in the old facility. Also, downtown San Diego
has seen an enormous amount of growth over the past decade, and we are sure that the trend
will only continue, so we need to have a library facility that will be able to keep up with the
community, as well as being able to grow and morph in the future. We also need to see the
library as offering amenities for the city, which means incorporating spaces such as an audito-
rium and more open public spaces. Throughout the process developing a library design, we
along with Rob Quigley held public meetings so that we could get input from the community,
as well as to look for artistic and forward thinking individuals who might be able to assist us
in the process. Another feature that we have been looking to incorporate is the option of a cha-
rter school, since there is potential funding from the school district if it is placed within the libr-
ary. The branch needs to be a popular place to visit not only within the immediate downtown
community, but also to the residents of San Diego County. One must remember that this new
central library would be the hub for the rest of the 35 libraries within the county, so it needs to
serve as the regional center, which also entails incorporating rooms and spaces such as
administrative offices.
Name: Deborah Barrow
Title: Library Director, San Diego Public Library
Location: San Diego, California, United States
Question: What is essential to a successful library environment?
The most essential part of the library is to create an environment where people can come and
accomplish what they came to do. First and foremost, the library has always been a place
where knowledge is stored, and where students, researchers and the common reader come
to extract its information. It has been a symbol of intelligence and democracy for years, and it
should continue to do this. As library director however, I must admit that the functions of the
library have changed a bit, and its environment should adapt with the times. Bookstores have
been a strong competition for us, and we should do something to compete with them.
Question: What sort of features and spaces should the architect incorporate into
a new library design for San Diego?
One of the most important features that many of our patrons tell us about is that they want a
space where reading can be done in a relaxed environment. In other libraries around the
country, this is done in sort of a grand reading room. Patrons need and should have a place
where they feel at home, and where they know that they have the entire library’s materials at
their disposal. Many features in the older libraries tend to alienate people, especially since
in the past libraries were usually only used by the educated public and researchers. We of
course are now in an age where everyone can use the library, and the design should be able
to welcome in users as well as attract new ones. If a library is well-designed, it will also attract
important and well-known authors and celebrities to hold events, which would in turn bring
more attention to the library and the community at large. One of the most vital features that
most people don’t realize, and I cannot emphasize how important this is, is the areas where
the librarians are, and the workplaces they need to frequent. Even though the library is for
the community and its users, one must realize that the librarians are the ones that are here
all day trying to keep up a learning and cultural environment, and they should be entitled to
a comftorable facility as well. This should include offices for their use as well as just a gener-
ally well organized library system so that their work load is not as heavy.
Name: Brian Quinn
Title: Chief Engineer, Atlas Construction Supply
Location: San Diego, California, United States
Question: What has been your experiences with architects and projects of this
nature?
We have been involved with many key projects and architects, and each of them has had
its ups and downs. One must realize, like in any project, that there are many people involved,
all the way from the professional levels, to the community. As far as architects go, I have had
experiences with many of them such as Anshen+Allen, Rob Quigley, and Jonathan Siegel.
Each of them have had their own personalities and ways of working, but I must say that the
common denominator has been that they all have seemed a bit arrogant. As an architect, one
must realize that the design of these buildings are not just a reflection of the architect, but also
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | e x p e r t w i t n e s s a c c o u n t s21
Figure 24: Logo of the Atlas Construction Supply, Inc. Company.
22
Figure 26: Atlas Construction products at work on the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
the entire community it is in. I think the arrogance is a product of their goals, which most often
is the achievement of perfection. This is understandable, but the more important concept to
grasp here is that the architect should seek perfection, not necessarily achieve it. The architect
sets up the framework for a project, but the people who ultimately decide on a project’s succ-
ess is its users. At the end of the day it is a team effort, but it is the architect’s job to coordinate
with all of the consultants in order to produce a successful project.
Question: What is the history of downtown San Diego and its surrounding areas,
and how does the environment affect a potential downtown project?
Downtown San Diego has seen a complete rennovation over that past couple decades, and I
see three different projects as being the catalysts for improving the downtown environment.
The first one was Horton Plaza which was done in the 1980’s by Jon Jerde, secondly would be
the Gaslamp Quarter which has transformed into a tourist destination as well as an entertainm-
ent district for locals, and finally Petco Park in the East Village has been the most vital in the
last decade, and has really brought attention to the area by developers, with developers from
Canada being the most prominent. The success of the downtown ballpark has now given other
ideas to developers for new projects such as another downtown stadium for the San Diego
Chargers football team. Condos, small businesses, and tourist destinations have been going
up around the area for a few years now, and even though the situation the economy is in has
slowed it down a bit, I am sure that the trend will again favor the continued growth of the
downtown. In any project downtown, it is vital to remember that there needs to be room for
expansion, since the number of people who come downtown everyday is growing as well as
the number of residents living downtown.
Figure 25: Detailed drawing for concrete formwork and interior view of Oakland’s Cathedral
of Christ the Light.
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | p r o j e c t r e q u i r e m e n t s23
Figure 27: A performance of Mexican folklorico danncing.
24
Since the project will be located on a premier site that is optimal for educational and
cultural activities, the programming of the central San Diego Public Library will need to go be-
yond that of a conventional library. In addition to having the required library space for its coll-
ections and services, it will aslo see the addition of a technology center that will adapt to 21st
century needs, an outdoor library plaza and cafe that will serve as a tourist destination, a
grand reading room that will allow its users to experience the city with exceptional views and
spaces, an auditorium that can be used for multiple presentation types and purposes, as well
as a special events room that will be open to the entire community for its use. Since these
types of venues will be coming together in one facility, the library needs to accommodate all
of its users which will lead to a more diverse and dynamic atmosphere, where people of all
ages and backgrounds can come together to celebrate the city and its unique heritage.
The project requirements for this library are directly influenced by the understanding
that it needs to be a special place, which shares the aura of a performing arts center, the rich-
ness of an educational institution, the vitality needed for a commerce center, and the excitem-
ent of a place for discovery. The public library is a destination in itself, and now more than
ever should it be one that attracts a wide variety of people and professions. Because of its
downtown location, the tourist factor should be vital to the programmatic and architectural
requirements. As a tourist center, the library should provide an abundance of recreational
information for San Diego, as well as becoming a tourist destination in itself. Ultimately, the
library will serve as a physical and representational gateway for the city which will welcome
tourists, residents, and prominent leaders to the heart of the region.
5p r o j e c t r e q u i r e m e n t s
As in any architectural project of this kind, it is important to address the feelings and
concerns of its future users, as well as its consultants and officials. There are issues and ideas
that have been brought to the attention of the people who are involved in this project, and
these are a few that have been outlined and will be required as part of the design:
Makes a proud civic statement architecturally
Reflects the environment of San Diego
Is welcoming, inviting in approach, and non-intimidating
Has highly visible service areas and promotes self-directed services
Adapts to the activated downtown environment
Is organized and designed to recognize long hours of public service
Recognizes and deals appropriately with the presence of the homeless
Recognizes the requirements of large group visits
Serves as an economic, civic, educational, and tourist hub of the region
Accomodates the immediate residential community and market
The design of the library should incorporate all of these aspects, but should not be limited to
this list. The overencompassing concept of this project will always be that the fundamental
parts of the library institution have evolved, and this building should reflect and demonstrate
how this has occurred, and should set guidelines for morphing of these values in the future.
In addition to the items listed above, there are basic public library design principles that have
survived the evolution of the institution. The most obvious would be that the facility should be
kept as open as possible in its spatial qualities, which also entails that these same spaces
should be left uncluttered as related to circulation, furnishings, and other programmatic
elements.
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | p r o j e c t r e q u i r e m e n t s25
26 In general, the public library system exists and serves as an assitant to the overall
community in an effort to improve the citizens’ quality of life. Quality of life is directly correlated
with the knowledge of a society, and the library is the storage place of information where this
knowledge is ultimately achieved and used.
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | r e s e a r c h fi n d i n g s27
Figure 28: U.S. Green Building Council member holding a LEED Platinum Award plaque.
28
One of the characteristics of the profession of architecture is its search for new and
innovative ways of incorporating ideas and technology into the built environment. No matter
what the building type or the programmitic functions a building takes on, it is important that
this trend continues, especially in today’s world where sustainability is such an issue. The
project of this library should be no different, and it should even go beyond the normal steps
that are taken by an architect and other professional consultants by making the facility a sh-
owcase of the city’s innovations and its stance on creating a carbon neutral environment.
With this being said, it is imperative that this central San Diego Public Library project
look to incorporate passive design strategies as well as active ones that take advantage of
technology and other resources. The ultimate goal is to achieve a LEED Platinum rating from
the U.S. Green Building Council for this library, in order to make the building a prime example
for others around the world to emulate. A checklist for points awarded for how strategies are
used and the results from the actual built building will be adhered to throughout the process,
and should serve as one of the principle guidelines for the project. Some potential elements
that will be explored include:
Sustainable Site: The proposed site shall be located near major public transportation
nodes such as bus routes; it will look to incorporate features of landscaping and
exterior design in order to reduce negative impacts on environment such as the heat
island effect; major steps in planning should be taken during initial construction with
control of erosion and sedimentation
6r e s e a r c h fi n d i n g s
Resources and materials: The project should look to use recyclables wherever it is
possible and appropriate, such as using a high percentage of materials that are
recycled or that are manufactured within 500 miles of San Diego, in order to help
the local economy as well as reducing transportation distances
Efficiency of water: An on-site rainwater collection tank should be looked into in
order to preserve water, and would be used for interior as well as exterior uses; any
plants incorporated into landscape plan shall be drought-tolerant; a sufficient mec-
hanical system and equipment should be used, as well as installing metered faucets
as well as no-flush urinals
Indoor environmental quality: Passive design strategies such as maximizing daylight
and outdoor views shall be implemented throughout the building; the standards of
the American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (AS
HRAE) shall look to be exceeded; monitoring systems should be put in place to
manage the thermal comfort within the library
Overall energy and atmosphere: The energy performance of the building and its
sytems such as HVAC, building envelope and others should look to exceed and
outperform any energy code standard and regulations; the ultimate goal and purp-
ose is protect and enhance the liveable and useable environments, and to yield cost
savings to the taxpayers by reducing operating and construction costs
Even though these are all very important aspects in making this library work to its full potential,
there are many other technical and design aspects that should be researched and fully deve-
loped throughout the design process. Some of these features include lighting, acoustics, ADA
(Americans with Disabilities Act), materials selection, flexibility, HVAC, and many more. Acou-
stics are crtical to creating a successful library environment, especially in an activated region
such as downtown. Configuration of spaces, layout of furnishings, and selection of finishes
and materials all play a role in controlling sound generation and transmission throughout the
building. Also, circulation of people and materials is vital to the library, and consequently a
method of organization should be layed out and implemented. Structural considerations sho-
uld be taken due to the amount of live loads being placed on the existing floor and dead loads.
Illumination and quality of light is another important factor, with an average of 40-50 foot cand-
les (fc) needed for optimal public reading spaces.
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | r e s e a r c h fi n d i n g s29
30
Figure 29: LEED checklist from the U.S. Green Building Council.
LEED 2009 FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND MAJOR RENOVATIONS
vi
LEED 2009 FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND MAJOR RENOVATIONS PROJECT CHECKLIST
Sustainable Sites 26 Possible Points��Prerequisite 1 Construction Activity Pollution Prevention Required
��Credit 1 Site Selection 1
��Credit 2 Development Density and Community Connectivity 5
��Credit 3 Brownfield Redevelopment 1
��Credit 4.1 Alternative Transportation—Public Transportation Access 6
��Credit 4.2 Alternative Transportation—Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms 1
��Credit 4.3 Alternative Transportation—Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles 3
��Credit 4.4 Alternative Transportation—Parking Capacity 2
��Credit 5.1 Site Development—Protect or Restore Habitat 1
��Credit 5.2 Site Development—Maximize Open Space 1
��Credit 6.1 Stormwater Design—Quantity Control 1
��Credit 6.2 Stormwater Design—Quality Control 1
��Credit 7.1 Heat Island Effect—Nonroof 1
��Credit 7.2 Heat Island Effect—Roof 1
��Credit 8 Light Pollution Reduction 1
Water Efficiency 10 Possible Points��Prerequisite 1 Water Use Reduction Required
��Credit 1 Water Efficient Landscaping 2-4
��Credit 2 Innovative Wastewater Technologies 2
��Credit 3 Water Use Reduction 2-4
Energy and Atmosphere 35 Possible Points��Prerequisite 1 Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems Required
��Prerequisite 2 Minimum Energy Performance Required
��Prerequisite 3 Fundamental Refrigerant Management Required
��Credit 1 Optimize Energy Performance 1–19
��Credit 2 On-site Renewable Energy 1–7
��Credit 3 Enhanced Commissioning 2
��Credit 4 Enhanced Refrigerant Management 2
��Credit 5 Measurement and Verification 3
��Credit 6 Green Power 2
Materials and Resources 14 Possible Points��Prerequisite 1 Storage and Collection of Recyclables Required
��Credit 1.1 Building Reuse—Maintain Existing Walls, Floors and Roof 1-3
��Credit 1.2 Building Reuse—Maintain Existing Interior Nonstructural Elements 1
��Credit 2 Construction Waste Management 1-2
��Credit 3 Materials Reuse 1-2
��Credit 4 Recycled Content 1-2
LEED 2009 FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND MAJOR RENOVATIONS
vii
��Credit 5 Regional Materials 1-2
��Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials 1
��Credit 7 Certified Wood 1
Indoor Environmental Quality 15 Possible Points��Prerequisite 1 Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance Required
��Prerequisite 2 Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control Required
��Credit 1 Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring 1
��Credit 2 Increased Ventilation 1
��Credit 3.1 Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan—During Construction 1
��Credit 3.2 Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan—Before Occupancy 1
��Credit 4.1 Low-Emitting Materials—Adhesives and Sealants 1
��Credit 4.2 Low-Emitting Materials—Paints and Coatings 1
��Credit 4.3 Low-Emitting Materials—Flooring Systems 1
��Credit 4.4 Low-Emitting Materials—Composite Wood and Agrifiber Products 1
��Credit 5 Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control 1
��Credit 6.1 Controllability of Systems—Lighting 1
��Credit 6.2 Controllability of Systems—Thermal Comfort 1
��Credit 7.1 Thermal Comfort—Design 1
��Credit 7.2 Thermal Comfort—Verification 1
��Credit 8.1 Daylight and Views—Daylight 1
��Credit 8.2 Daylight and Views—Views 1
Innovation in Design 6 Possible Points��Credit 1 Innovation in Design 1-5
��Credit 2 LEED Accredited Professional 1
Regional Priority 4 Possible Points��Credit 1 Regional Priority 1-4________________________________________________________________________
LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovations100 base points; 6 possible Innovation in Design and 4 Regional Priority points
Certified 40–49 points
Silver 50–59 points
Gold 60–79 points
Platinum 80 points and above
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | s i t e a s s e s s m e n t31
Figure 30: View of the San Diego harbor and downtown skylne on a clear day.
32
The site selection was especially crucial since it is vital that many needs are met in
order to service the region as a whole with library services as well as fulfilling its civic role.
San Diego is a very diverse city due to its proximity to Los Angeles and to the U.S.-Mexico
border. This has allowed the city to develop many different cultures and traditions, which have
grown due to the region’s climate, tourism, and location as a military port and harbor. All of
these aspects of the region come together in the downtown San Diego area, where revitaliza-
tion of this one lonely and desolate place has changed the environment completely.
The downtown area has seen most of the new development happen in what is known
as the East Village, due to the new baseball stadium that was built in 2004 to host the San
Diego Padres. Since then, developers have begun and completed projects such as high-rise
condominiums and mixed-use buildings. 9,000 housing units are under construction downt-
own, with more than 50,000 residents projected to live in dowtown by the year 2025. The city
has taken a definite turn to becoming a 24-hour city, where people who are working downtown
(75,000 employers and employees, which is expected to double by 2020) can live as well as
enjoy the nightlife without having to leave the district. The Gaslamp Quarter has also added to
the attractiveness of the area, and not to mention the San Diego harbor waterfront which is
within walking distance.
Another key reason for why this is the optimal site for the new San Diego Central
Public Library is transportation. The downtown area has more than sufficient parking due to
the many structures and lots that were put in place in order to withstand the impact of visitors
coming to the new ballpark. Also, the MTS (Metropolitan Transit System) already has put in
7s i t e a s s e s s m e n t
place the San Diego Trolley and its stops that will provide access to the library to people from
all around the county. The East Village is also conveniently located to other forms of public
transit as well as quick and easy freeway access to State Highway CA 163, State CA 94, and
Interstate 5. The area around the proposed site for the central library is serviced by twelve bus
routes, and there are 18 public transit stops within a quarter mile of the site.
The actual 70,000 square foot site which is located at the corner of Park Boulevard
and J Street also has significant economic advantages since it is entirely city-owned. Further-
more, this site is located along the new Park-to-Bay promenade which is a $130 million project
that will serve as a major urban design element linking two iconic elements in San Diego, Bal-
boa Park and San Diego Bay. The library will serve as a node on this link, which will increase
the educational opportunities for the community as well as developing further tourism in the
area. The site is also centrally located within the downtown district which consists of seven
other neighborhoods with their own qualities: Little Italy, Marina, Cortez, Columbia, Core,
Gaslamp Quarter and Horton. Despite the variety in qualities and characteristics that each
neighborhood posseses, there is still no place for the residents of these communities to
gather at and meet one another. The central library building will be able to satisfy the need of
providing a place for all of the downtown neighborhoods, as well as for the rest of the county.
The site is the best choice financially since it is already owned by the city, and its
previous use was an unsighlty vehicle maintenance yard. Additionally, the infrastructure in the
area has seen an upgrade worth $45 million as part of the redevelopment plan in the 26 block
district, which will improve service to current projects and future ones, including the central
San Diego Public Library. A brand new chilled water plant was also recently installed in the
area, which will potentially eliminate the need for a stand-alone system serving the library.
Since the site is city owned, it will be an easier process in solitifying and maximizing
the use of the site according to code. San Diego Municipal Code states that under base min-
imum and maximum floor area ratio (FAR) for the site is 6.5 . Assuming maximum FAR can be
achieved with added incentives and bonuses along with the implentation of the transfer of
developmental rights (TDR), the FAR could potentially reach 8.0 on the site, which is ideal for
the creative process in the design, as well as creating flexibility in its uses and architectural
features. One issuse to be aware of on this site is that it is within a land use overlay district
that is considered to be in the Coastal zone, which means that the project would be appeala-
ble to the California Coastal Commission. The California Coastal Act is enforced by the
commission, and it is intended to assure statewide interests in coastal resources are protect-
ed. The library design should adhere and look to benefit from such a regulation.
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | s i t e a s s e s s m e n t33
Figure 31: Rendering of the downtown San Diego area.
Figure 32: View of the Gaslamp Quarter Historical district in downtown San Diego.
34
Figure 33: Map of downtown San Diego with a diagram showing various connections and parking spaces related to proposed library site.
Public Parking Library Site Freeways Park-to-Bay Promenade MTS Trolley Route
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | s i t e a s s e s s m e n t35
Figures 34A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H: Views of and around the proposed downtown central San Diego Public Library.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
36
Figure 35: Map of downtown San Diego and its individual communities.
San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 15: Planned Districts Final per City Council Action February 28, 2006
Ch. Art. Div. 15 1 3 83
Figure 36: Map of FAR boundaries of downtown San Diego, regulated by CCDC.
Library Site
Library Site
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | c o n c l u s i o n37
38
As Henry Ward Beecher once said, “A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessi-
ties of life.” Throughout the process of this project, there is an attempt to create a design
that will not only serve the community at large with only creating the most basic structures and
environments for learning, but instead the luxury of the place will be created through the
experiences users have, and the architectural expressions and spatial features that grow from
the ideas and knowledge the library represents.
The architect is only a piece of the puzzle in the entire process that receives input
from other professional consultants, city officials, and other hard workers in creating this
library. But the initial inception of the idea does come from the architect, which will come to set
up and lay out the framework of what could be a generation of ideas and extraordinary
experiences. The ultimate beneficiary of this project will be the people and society at large,
who will see the transformation of this institution from a daunting and un-welcoming being,
into an exciting, welcoming, and activated one that will seek the best qualities of the
individuals and the communities they exemplify.
The downtown San Diego experience shall be transformed through this one structu-
re, and will be a catalyst for the entire area, and will seek to stand as an example for the rest
of the country and for the rest of the world to see. The common public space has been an
aspect of society that has all but disappeared over the years with the change in attitudes and
values that societies have sustained, but this project will breathe new light into this realm,
and will serve as an architectural, economic, educational, and civic gem that citizens will be
proud to call their own.
8c o n c l u s i o n
Why am I the best person for the job? Simple. I have a clear understanding of what
this city needs and what it seeks in a library, and that this library will not only show the prog-
ress this city has made over the years, but also how it thrives and excells in such a diverse
environment that holds traditions, values, and people from many backgrounds. The passion
that an architect has about a project is demonstrated through the amount of research and
time one puts in to a project of this magnitude, and the only desire is to create a space that
people can enjoy for generations to come. This library will not be a symbol of who or what
the architect is, or what his values and favored design strategies are, but instead it will be a
symbol of the region and its people, and the hopes that they are willing to extend out to
everyone else in the global community.
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | c o n c l u s i o n39
40
ACTIVATEDCIVIC
EDUCATIONAL
ECONOMIC
COMMUNITY
KNOWLEDGEDYNAMIC
INSTITUTION
INFORMATION
HOPE
FREE
PRIDE REGIONAL
ADAPTABLE
SUSTAINABLE
s a n d i e g o l i b r a r y | a n n o t a t e d b i b l i o g r a p h y41
42
Dewe, Michael. Planning Public Library Buildings. Vermont: Ashgate Publishing Company,
2006.
This book talks about many aspects of the library design process including those
such as the mission and roles of the library, key qualities in its design, and others
like building systems, sustainability, safety, and security. The author bases his
research and findings according to the rules, codes, and values of design
consultants in the UK.
Mattern, Shannon. The New Downtown Library: Designing with Communities. Minneapolis:
University of Minnesota, 2007.
The author of this book dives into the subject of libraries but in the specific down-
town environments in which they are being developed around the world. This
phenonema is explored by the author and looks at the most successful qualities
and strategies that have been implemented in the recent past.
a n n o t a t e db i b l i o g r a p h y
Bennett, David. Exploring Concrete Architecture: Tone, Texture, Form. Switzerland:
Birkhauser, 2001.
The concrete building material is explored, and its use in different building types
is studied and looked into. Concrete is one of the most widely used materials around
the world, and this was a great book to see how a construction material is used as
a unifying architectural and structural quality, and how its use can also differ through
out other regions.
Norten, Enrique, and Deyan Sudjic. Working: 20 Projects in Process. New York: Penguin
Group, 2007.
Twenty different projects, that includes libraries, are looked at as they are designed
and thought out before it goes into the construction stage. Most of the projects have
sites located in urban settings, and helped in the exploration of how successful
urban facilities function.
Bazillion, Richard J., and Braun, Connie. Academic Libraries as High-Tech Gateways: A
Guide to Design and Space Decisions. St. Petersburg: American Library Association,
1995.
This text advocates the need for flexibility in library design, and encourages discus-
sion on preparing for the library of the future and on the librarian’s role in the teach-
ing of electronic skills. It uses the tool of case studies to look at the problems that
are encountered during the building process, and presents a short history of the
individual library’s need to expand library space. The book also provides a listing
of librarians and architects who recently worked on library building projects.
Lushington, Nolan. Libraries Designed for Users: A 21st Century Guide. New York: Neal-
Schuman Publishers, 2002.
The author of this book had experience as a library design consultant, library dire-
ctor, and associate professor. The book looks at the practical strategies of the
library design process, and takes a critical look at history, trends, and processes
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that the library institution has gone through over the years. There are many library plans
illustrated to show a variety of solutions to design questions.
Crosbie, Michael J. Architecture for the Books. New York: Images Publishing Dist A/C,
2006.
Looks at some of the better library projects from the recent past with everything
from small community public libraries, to large commercial research libraries, and
state-of-the-art university centers for information and socializing. The book provides
many large format plans, sections, diagrams, and extensive photographs of interiors
and exteriors as well as details of libraries throughout the world.
Psarra, Sophia. Architecture and Narrative: The Formation of Space and Cultural Meaning.
Michigan: Routledge Publishers, 2009.
This book looks at the architectural profession and design process in a very differe-
nt way, by seeing it as the art of a thinking mind that arranges, organizes and esta-
blishes relationships between the parts and the whole. It is also seen as the art of
designing spaces, which one experiences through movement and use. The ideas
of conceptual ordering, spatial and social narratives are seen as fundamental to the
ways in which buildings are shaped.
Murphy, Tish. Library Furnishings: A Planning Guide. New York: McFarland & Company,
2007.
This book begins with the premise that the life expectancy of a typical library is 20
or so years, but can be greatly extended with extensive planning and an informed
choice of versatile, adaptable furnishings. The ultimate goal of this book is to allow
any librarian or architect to make informed, cost-effective decisions.
Loukatiou-Sideris, Anastasia. Urban Design Downtown: Poetics and Politics of Form. Berkley:
University of California, 1998.
The corporate downtown is looked at with its multitude of social dilemmas and cont-
44
radictions. How downtown projects are conceived, scripted, produced, packaged
and used, and how all this has changed during the twentith century is explored.
Takes a historical look at the various phases of downtown transformations.
Kubo, Michael. Office for Metropolitan Architecture: Seattle Public Library. Barcelona: Actar
Publishing, 2005.
OMA’s design for the Seattle Public Library is one of the firm’s most well-known proj-
ects, and it explains the rethinking of the very nature of the library. States that if the
library exists as a threatened sanctuary, it has been done by its own stubborn relian-
ce on one kind of literacy and its consequent blindness to other emerging forms that
increasingly dominate our culture.
Swimmer, Lara. Process: Seattle Central Library. New York: Documentary Media, 2004.
Takes an intimate glimpse into the creation of one of the most unique buildings in the
world. It is a book filled with mostly photographs that span the entire 32 months of
construction, and then gives a photographic tour throughout the library once it was
completed.
Gordon, Jacques. Horton Plaza, San Diego: A Case Study of Public-Private Development.
Boston: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1985.
A writing on how this cornerstone project that anchors the retail industry in downtown
San Diego transformed the area, and started a chain effect to other redevoplment
projects in the district.
“Implementing Downtown’s Redevlopment on Behalf of the City of San Diego.” Centre City
Develpoment Corporation. 7 Dec. 2010. <http://www.ccdc.com/>
This website is of extreme help for anyone working on a project in the downtown San
Diego area, since the CCDC is the organization in charge of organizing, planning,
and implementing regulations in any downtown project.
“Central Library: About the Project.” San Diego Public Library Foundation. 7 Dec. 2010.
<http://supportmylibrary.org/centrallibrary/aboutproject>
This website helps explain the current San Diego Library project is about, and
what approaches the architect and design team took. It also gives an inside look
to what the client, City of San Diego, wants out of this project from a design stand
point, financially, and as an educational institution.