Library Buildings around the World

Prozign Architects, Houston, TX – USA
http://www.prozign.com
Libraries:
Texas A&M Sterling C. Evans Library Renovation, Galveston TX – USA 2011
AgriculturAL AND Mechanical College of Texas
In June of 2007, the Texas A&M University Libraries embarked on a journey to "re-imagine" its physical spaces from the user´s
perspective. With a population of almost 50,000 students, the goal from was to design student-centered learning spaces on the first
floor of the main facility — the Sterling C. Evans Library.
To ensure student input they began with an extensive outreach campaign. Large "If I ran the library..." posters and accompanying
floor plans were hung in strategic areas on the first floor of Sterling C. Evans Library where the renovation was to take place. This
information was also replicated on the Libraries´ website. Students were encouraged to draw their ideas and comments on the floor
plans. Based on the initial feedback, a series of increasingly focused questions were posted for additional input and clarification. The
outreach campaign culminated with several focus groups.
The outreach campaign indicated, the students desired aesthetically pleasing group and quiet study areas, comfortable, ergonomic
seating and work spaces, expanded access to our popular coffee shop and easier access to service staff and expert librarians. Design
elements such as improved lighting, warmer colors, and soft textures were incorporated to create more "inviting", "comfortable",
and "welcoming" spaces -words that regularly emerged from student comments and focus group discussions.
The newly redesigned first floor moves from highly interactive areas with the coffee shop, service desk and collaborative group areas
to quiet and reflective study areas as a user moves further into the building. Overall design took into consideration the need for
flexible furniture and collaborative areas, where possible, with intuitive access to services and expert help. The completed project
includes the following highlights:
• A consolidated service area for one-stop circulation, interlibrary loan, and reference assistance.
• Custom designed research consultation workstations to better accommodate librarian and user collaboration adjacent to
the new service desk.
• An expanded and integrated cafe with an additional 70 seats.
• Twelve new large study rooms for collaborative work and presentation practice. Seven of these rooms include wall-sized
whiteboard areas.
• Flexible study booths for additional group study space.
• Comfortable and quirky lounge furniture in the form of human-shaped deck chairs.
Re-imaging the library from the user´s perspective was our guiding principle throughout the project. We achieved this goal by
actively encouraging student participation in the design process instead of making our own assumptions about student needs. Our
new spaces allow for increased collaboration between students as well as between students and librarians. In addition, the
comfortable, attractive spaces and furnishings offer a welcoming experience for all users. (Prozign)
City of Houston, Jesse Jones Central Library, Houston, TX – USA 2008
Prozign completed renovations to the Marston Building that were required by the City of Houston
Public Library as a means to permanently relocate their Administrative Departments and Facilities and Project Management Group
from the Jones Central Library Building. The move allows the areas vacated by these departments to be reassigned as general public
spaces for Children and Teen program areas, reading rooms, staff lounges and HPL staff work stations. The construction budget for
this renovation project was $1.3 million, and included demolition, new build-out for offices, toilets, meeting rooms, staff lounges and
upgraded mechanical, electrical, and plumbing equipment. ADA compliance issues and conditions have been addressed for the new
construction, as well as general building repairs. Services provided: Programming, master planning, design, documentation, and
construction administration. (Prozign)
Ratcliff Architecture, Emeryville, CA - USA
Christopher Ratcliff
http://www.ratcliffarch.com
Libraries:
Golden Gate University, Master Plan and Campus Modernization, San Francisco, CA – USA 2013
(Golden Gate University, School of Law Library, San Francisco, CA – USA)
For over ten years, Ratcliff has been engaged at Golden Gate University (GGU) providing master planning and design services for
numerous projects, ranging from small tenant improvements to more extensive renovations and additions in buildings completed as
early as the year 1913 up to those completed in 1978. Starting in early 2000, when the firm was asked to produce a facilities master
plan, the goals of the university included consolidating space and functions for streamlined facility efficiency, improving access and
circulation for students and staff, upgrading building systems to support state-of-the-art learning environments and articulating a
new professional identity to the local business community. When complete, the campus improvements will total over $60 million in
construction cost. The first phase of construction was the addition of a nine-level silo housing new mechanical and
telecommunications equipment and infrastructure that fed the adjacent classroom wing in the main academic building at
536 Mission. The new building systems allowed for improved air quality in the existing classroom wing and supported the
incorporation of new multi-media systems into the renovated 2nd floor auditoria and third floor classrooms creating state -
of-the art learning environments. The next series of projects addressed the expansion and renovation of the Law Library.
The goals of the expansion were to increase stack capacity while also providing more study space for law students. The first
step involved a 10,000 sf remodel of an existing lower level of the Library installing compact shelving systems and new
study carrels while also updating finishes, lighting and mechanical systems. The goals of the expansion were to increase
stack capacity while also providing more study space for law students. The first step involved a 10,000 sf remodel of an
existing lower level of the Library installing compact shelving systems and new study carrels while also updating finishes,
lighting and mechanical systems. In order to free up space for the remaining Law Library expansion, the firm then
undertook the renovation of an adjacent historic warehouse located at 40 Jessie Street. The renovated space provided space
for relocated university departments, allowing GGU to consolidate all school functions within its two main campus
buildings. The concrete warehouse building, originally constructed in 1913 for the manufacture of ship boilers, was
bequeathed to the University in 1990 and had been used primarily as a staging and storage area. T he project increased the
building’s capacity to 50,000 s.f., adding three increased the building’s capacity to 50,000 s.f., adding three levels, Floors 2,
5 and 6 and renovating existing floors to create a new Student Services Center and University adminis trative offices.Once
the 40 Jessie Street renovation was complete, the Law library expansion could continue into newly vacated space which was
then reconfigured to include a new reading room, new main entrance, a new reference desk and staff offices. The n ew
reading room and entry enhance the Law School’s visibility and overall campus profile in San Francisco’s downtown
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