Library Buildings around the World

(http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Publications/spectrum/Archives/Vol-5/pub_sp0105/pub-sp0105-cali.pdf)
Bull Street Branch of the Live Oak Public Libraries, Savannah, GA – USA 2000
Multnomah County Central Library, Portland, OR – USA 1997
Fletcher Farr Ayotte – exec. Architect, Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates – assoc. architect, McMath Dortignac – preservation
consultant Hoffman Construction Co. – general contractor
One of Portland’s best-loved historic landmarks, the Central Library was designed by renowned architect A.E. Doyle and
constructed in 1913. Its innovative design was heralded for its functionality as well as its beauty. Over the years, the library suffered
under heavy use and ill-conceived remodeling in the 1950’s. By the 1990’s it was overcrowded and inefficient, and 70% of its
collection was inaccessible to the public.
Starting in 1993 the needs of the Library were assessed and a plan developed for a seismic and safety upgrade, incorporation of new
systems, and also a re-organization of spaces. Working with George McMath, Doyle’s grandson, and drawing upon historic
photographs to serve a guides, lobby spaces and reading rooms were brought back to their original grandeur.
Exterior masonry was repaired. Wood windows were refurbished. Mid-century remodeling was reversed. Additional space was
added in the basement and under the roof. Structural reinforcements and system upgrades were accomplished with little
compromise of historic integrity.
Completed in 1997, this community landmark will inspire and educate many more generations of Portlanders. What a treasure we
continue to have in the Central Library! (http://www.visitahc.org/content/multnomah-county-central-library-case-study)
Cleveland Public Library, Cleveland, OH – USA 1996/1997
Discussions regarding urbanism often center around one discourse - what is a proper response to an historic urban master plan?
Should something new reflect the old or interject a spirit of the new. Some believe responsive design is sensitive to the surroundings,
incorporating previous established patterns and precedents. Others argue only something new is appropriate and forward-thinking.
The Cleveland Public Library demonstrates what Holzman Moss Architecture considers a more sophisticated and ultimately
challenging approach - merging old and new in a thoughtful fashion. The library, one of the largest circulating libraries in the
country, responds to an historic urban plan with four marble-clad towers that compliment the adjacent Beaux Arts buildings and yet
offset the 10-story glass oval that provides a freshness and openness to the upper reading and stack areas. The design also integrates
the beloved Eastman Reading Garden illustrating that effective urbanism is responding to the public by designing a building truly
for the public, a place that becomes an integral part of the city by becoming an integral part of the lives of its citizens. (Holzmann)
The construction of the new building made news on March 11, 1995, when the laying of its foundation became the largest continuous
concrete pour in the city's history: 7,000 cubic yards of concrete were poured to complete the four-foot-thick foundation. The new
$65 million building was dedicated on April 12, 1997. With eleven floors, including the lower level, the new 267,000-square-foot
building has more than thirty miles of book shelves--enough for 1.3 million books and is equipped with the latest electronic
resources. The new building is named for Cleveland native Louis Stokes, who, in 1968, became the first African-American elected to
the U.S. Congress from Ohio. During his illustrious career, Representative Stokes helped found the Congressional Black Caucus, and
he became the first black member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. He was re-elected fourteen times before
retiring in 1998. The Louis Stokes Wing is one of many important buildings erected in Cleveland since the 1980s that have
transformed the city's skyline while providing tangible proof of its remarkable renaissance. These include the BP America Building
by H.O.K. (1985), Key Tower by Cesar Pelli & Associates (1991), Jacobs Field by H.O.K. Sports Group (1994), and I.M. Pei's Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (1995). Of all these, the Louis Stokes Wing is perhaps the most daring in its combination of
traditional elements (the use of masonry, uniform cornice lines, and corner pavilions) and innovative architecture, through the use of
an oval glass tower--a first for Cleveland. The $24 million renovation of the landmark Main Building, directed by Robert P. Madison
International, called for a sensitivity to the building's architectural integrity while incorporating new technologies. To the casual
observer, the changes to the Main Building may not be apparent, but this serves to underscore the success of the architects in their
delicate task. Electrical, plumbing, and ventilation systems were replaced. Modern fire safety systems, including sprinklers, were
installed, and trenches were cut into the cement floors to accommodate wiring for new computer and electrical equipment. New
mechanical machinery was placed out of sight in the basement, returning the light court to an uncluttered and light-filled state.
As part of the architects' goal of returning the building to its original luster, historic ceiling finishes were restored, the exterior
marble was cleaned with a gentle water spray process, historical light fixtures were restored and rewired, decorative metalwork was
repaired and polished, and the original leather doors were rejuvenated. For the first time in decades, the Main Building?s historic
spaces and architectural details can be fully appreciated, while featuring many technological advances and conveniences.
Demonstrating the Library's continuing support for the visual arts, the Library Board commissioned a substantial collection of
permanent art to be included in the buildings and garden. Thirteen artists of local and national reputation created original art for
the Main Library, the Louis Stokes Wing, and the Eastman Reading Garden. Selected by a jury coordinated with the Committee for
Public Art, the art works are significant additions to the Library's and the city's artistic heritage. The new art at the Main Library
was made possible largely by generous grants from Cleveland foundations, corporations, and nonprofit groups.
( http:///www.cpl.org )
Middle Country Public Library, Centereach Selden, New York – USA 2003
Los Angeles Public Library, Central Library, Los Angeles, CA – USA 1993
The Los Angeles Central Library, the largest public library in the western United States, is the centerpiece of a multi-block
development, providing both a cultural facility and related landscaping for public use in the midst of a high-rise commercial district.
Its expansion and rehabilitation incorporates Bertram Goodhue's (* 28.04.1869 Pomfret CT - + 23.04.1924 New York NY) original
1926 landmark building with significant new construction. The 550,000-square-foot facility functions as a research center and
headquarters for 66 branches. In addition to 90 linear miles of shelving and seating for 1,500 patrons, the library features a board
room, meeting rooms, a conference center, a 235-seat multimedia auditorium, a cafe, a bookstore, offices, and more than 1.3 acres of
public space. Pfeiffer Partners’ 10-year effort began with master planning and program confirmation, and included historic
preservation and adaptive reuse and full interior design services, in addition to designing. (Holzmann/Pfeiffer)
The last work of the major American architect Bertram G. Goodhue, the Central Library blends the past with the modern age. Its
simple massed expanses of unadorned concrete and skyscraper-like profile herald modern architecture. At the same time, it alludes
to ancient cultures including Egypt, Rome, Byzantium and various Islamic civilizations, as well as to Spanish Colonial and other
revival styles.
Ornamental and symbolic artworks are integral to the library's design. The limestone sculptures on the building's exterior are by
artist Lee Lawrie, and represent various disciplines and literary figures. The brilliantly colored tile pyramid at the building's summit
features a sunburst and is topped by a hand-held torch symbolizing the light of knowledge.
The second floor of the Library includes a high-domed rotunda exploding with light and color. At the center of the dome is a stylized
sunburst and an illuminated globe chandelier with the signs of the zodiac. On the surrounding walls, twelve murals painted by Dean
Cornwall in 1933 depict the history of California.
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