Program Overview

A Library for the 21st Century

Libraries have been an integral part of many communities in the United States for the last hundred years. From the Rockefeller endowed libraries to the Library of Congress, millions of Americans have utilized these facilities for recreational and educational needs.  Now in the digital age of the 21st Century, how does a library facility adjust to suit the changing needs of the community?

As publicly funded buildings, libraries need to be as energy efficient as possible. Utilizing green building principles in design makes sense both environmentally and financially.   Having a LEED certified major publicly used building can help introduce community members to green building principles.

Libraries offer a connection to knowledge, innovation and education.  Libraries have traditionally connected members of a community to the great world around them and served as a gathering place. This program calls on designers to continue this achievement.

OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES
This document contains a program for a minimum 15,000 s.f. library. This competition is considered an “open” competition where participants are welcome to select their own site location. The library program is designed to serve a population of 25,000.  As you select your site, whether rural or urban, keep this community size in mind. Thorough research on the site location, along with a comprehensive understanding of site conditions will be necessary to successfully complete this program. The program encourages competitors to develop strong ideas about sustainable design with regard to the site and building. 

All designers should consider the site and building from an accessibility standpoint. Consideration should be given to ensure that designs comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. For more information designers should consult with the US Access Board at www.access-board.gov or 800.872.2253.

The objectives of this competition are:

•       To research, respond to and highlight the unique aspects of designing a library that serves the selected site and community.
•       To build knowledge about materials, products, and installation (primarily Kawneer architectural aluminum building products and systems that can help earn LEED certification points).
•       To design a sustainable facility utilizing USGBC LEED building standards.
•       To design a facility that looks to the educational, cultural and service needs of the community both now and into the future.
•       To encourage designers to utilize sustainable and universal design principles for development of both the building and site.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The basic principles when planning for a library:

1. Location to insure maximum accessibility for the community
2. Clarity of design concept (collections, seating for readers and staff space require adjacencies to each other that are clear to the user
3. Ease of supervision by library staff
4. Provision for future expansion (addition of compact shelving within existing footprint and/or building expansion.
5. Provide sound control for the building, as well as security and climate control to protect the book collection.

The program gives minimum recommendations for size. All designs should consider the program requirement fulfillment for overall function of the spaces. Furniture and fixture location are not required in final drawings.

Secondary programmatic functions that must be incorporated into the design:

• The facility must be made energy efficient, utilizing Kawneer sustainable products.
• A portion of the facility must serve the community with social/community centered spaces.
• The facility must be wireless.
• The facility must be secure.
• Facility must have convenient parking (if required of the area).

Total estimated minimum floor space                                                                  15,000 s.f.
a. Book Collection (minimum)                                                                 50,000 volumes
b. Space for Book collection                                                                   5,000 s.f.
c. Reader space (minimum of 75 seats)                                                   2,250 s.f.
d. Staff work space                                                                                1,500 s.f.
            e. Toilets (As required by local code for size of building)
            f. Circulation and Utilities                                                                       10%
g. Estimated additional space required for special uses and miscellaneous 6,250 s.f.

Additional Areas
One of the main challenges of this competition is to design a library that will serve the needs of the community now and in the future.  Many community libraries today were built before the advent of computers and digital technology. The minimum estimated floor space required for the building is 15,000. This is your opportunity to look at what else a library can be and what else a library should be in this century.

LEED CERTIFICATON
The USGBC LEED for New Construction Rating System is designed to guide and distinguish high-performance commercial and institutional projects, including office buildings, high-rise residential buildings, government buildings, recreational facilities, manufacturing plants and laboratories. Utilize Version 2.2 as your guidelines towards creating a sustainable building.

OTHER NOTES
Depending on the selection of the site, some or none of these design elements are required in the design of this facility. All site improvements are designed to help in the overall performance of the building and must meet local building and zoning codes.

      Vehicular Access                               Access from main route.

      Pedestrian Access                             Easy pedestrian access from public transportation.

      Bicycle Access                                  Consider approach to site via bicycle.

      Parking                                            Provide on-site parking based on local codes – make provisions for ADA accessible parking as required by guidelines.

      Bicycle Racks                                   Consider bike storage.

      Site Lighting                                                Consider lighting with regards to community experience and safety.

      Storm Water                                     Consider ways to mitigate storm water run-off.

      Trash Collection/Recycling                  Consider site access for trash outside storage and removal.