SDPL
SDPUBLICLIBRARY A N D R E W P W R I c a l | p o l y | p o m o n a s e n i o r | p r o j e c t 2010
G
H T
i
san
diego
library
|
abstract
ii
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 leisure 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.
abstract
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 population. 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 certain 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.�
iii
san
diego
library
|
table
of
contents
page
table of contents
abstract
ii
1project description
1
2backgound
5
3case studies
11
4expert witness accounts
17
5project requirements
23
6research findings
27
7site assessment
31
8conclusion
37
annotated bibliography
41
appendix
45
1
san
diego
library
|
project
description
Figure 1: Library user sitting on top of book shelves
2
1
project description
There are many pre-conceptions about what a library is and what users of the library do. Even though these might quite often be correct, there needs to be a change in mentality 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. There 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
3
san
diego
library
|
project
Figure 2: Children listening to a storyteller in a dedicated space for elementary readers.
Figure 3: Libraries need to offer spaces for study groups.
description
they reside in, and the central library nneds to further develop the pride and respect its people 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 objectives 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 generations 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 library 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 commercial 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.
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 through. 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 Imperatives 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 information 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.
Cafe/Coffee Shop
Cashier/Book shelves
Indoor Seating/ Reading area
Outdoor Seating/Reading area
Figure 4: Typical bookstore layout which incorporates spaces for relaxation and interaction.
5
san
diego
library
|
background
Figure 5: Opening of San Diego Library in 1954.
6
2
background
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 nightife 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 designed 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 construction. 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
7
san
diego
library
|
background
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.
8
downtown. 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 grabbing 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 population 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.
9
san
diego
library
|
Figure 10: Example of new developments in the downtown San Diego area.
background
10
what a landmark library for San Diego should truly be. Great cities have been said to be defined 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 library 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.
11
san
diego
library
|
case
studies
Figure 11: OMA’s Seattle Public Library.
12
3
case studies
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 architectural 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 programmatic 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 throughout 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 plumbing). 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.
13
san
diego
library
Figure 12: East-west section cut through Seattle Public Library.
Figure 13: Floor plan of the third level of the Seattle Public Library.
|
case
studies
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 building type such as this is infinite. No longer is the architect held back in design by certain features 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 central 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 building 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 unsupported 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 defining 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.
14
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 chose 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 planning 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.
Figure 14: Architectural model of the Salt Lake City Public Library.
Figure 15: Floorplan of the Salt Lake City Public Library.
15
san
diego
library
|
case
studies
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.
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 located 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 destination 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 loftlike 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
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 enhance 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 succulent 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 projects 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. Figure 18: Interior view of Minneapolis Central Public Library.
Figure 19: Exterior view of the Minneapolis Central Library.
17
san
diego
library
|
expert
witness
accounts
Figure 20: Rendering of imaginative professional consultants.
18
4
expert witness accounts
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
19
san
diego
library
|
expert
witness
accounts
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 ballpark, but unfortunately away from the central library project. In a way though, the ballpark downtown 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?
Figure 21: Architect Rob Quigley, FAIA at the groundbreaking ceremony of San Diego Library.
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?
Figure 22: Exterior view of the San Diego City Hall building.
Rob Quigley is the architect of record, and he has been one of the project’s strongest supporters, and has been advocating for it over the past 10-15 years. He has made himself available 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-ofthe-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 situation as well.
20
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 auditorium 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 charter school, since there is potential funding from the school district if it is placed within the library. 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.
Figure 23: Librarian speaking with children about electronic media materials.
21
san
diego
library
|
expert
witness
accounts
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 generally 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?
Figure 24: Logo of the Atlas Construction Supply, Inc. Company.
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
22
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 success 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 entertainment 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.
Figure 26: Atlas Construction products at work on the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
23
san
diego
library
|
project
requirements
Figure 27: A performance of Mexican folklorico danncing.
24
5
project requirements
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 beyond that of a conventional library. In addition to having the required library space for its collections 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 richness of an educational institution, the vitality needed for a commerce center, and the excitement 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.
25
san
diego
library
|
project
requirements
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.
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.
27
san
diego
library
|
research
fi n d i n g s
Figure 28: U.S. Green Building Council member holding a LEED Platinum Award plaque.
28
6
r e s e a r c h fi n d i n g s
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 showcase 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
29
san
diego
library
|
research
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 mechanical 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 purpose 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 developed throughout the design process. Some of these features include lighting, acoustics, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), materials selection, flexibility, HVAC, and many more. Acoustics 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 should 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 candles (fc) needed for optimal public reading spaces.
30 LEED 2009 FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND MAJOR RENOVATIONS PROJECT CHECKLIST Sustainable Sites
26 Possible Points
Credit 5
Regional Materials
Credit 6
Rapidly Renewable Materials
1
Credit 7
Certified Wood
1
1-2
; Prerequisite 1
Construction Activity Pollution Prevention
Credit 1
Site Selection
1
Indoor Environmental Quality
Credit 2
Development Density and Community Connectivity
5
; Prerequisite 1
Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance
Required
Credit 3
Brownfield Redevelopment
1
; Prerequisite 2
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control
Required
Credit 4.1
Alternative Transportation—Public Transportation Access
6
Credit 1
Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring
1
Credit 4.2
Alternative Transportation—Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms
1
Credit 2
Increased Ventilation
1
Credit 4.3
Alternative Transportation—Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
3
Credit 3.1
Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan—During Construction
1
Credit 4.4
Alternative Transportation—Parking Capacity
2
Credit 3.2
Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan—Before Occupancy
1
Credit 5.1
Site Development—Protect or Restore Habitat
1
Credit 4.1
Low-Emitting Materials—Adhesives and Sealants
1
Credit 5.2
Site Development—Maximize Open Space
1
Credit 4.2
Low-Emitting Materials—Paints and Coatings
1
Credit 6.1
Stormwater Design—Quantity Control
1
Credit 4.3
Low-Emitting Materials—Flooring Systems
1
Credit 6.2
Stormwater Design—Quality Control
1
Credit 4.4
Low-Emitting Materials—Composite Wood and Agrifiber Products
1
Credit 7.1
Heat Island Effect—Nonroof
1
Credit 5
Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control
1
Credit 7.2
Heat Island Effect—Roof
1
Credit 6.1
Controllability of Systems—Lighting
1
Credit 8
Light Pollution Reduction
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
Water Efficiency
Required
10 Possible Points
; Prerequisite 1
Water Use Reduction
Credit 1
Water Efficient Landscaping
Credit 2
Innovative Wastewater Technologies
Credit 3
Water Use Reduction
Energy and Atmosphere
Required 2-4 2 2-4
35 Possible Points
15 Possible Points
1
Innovation in Design
6 Possible Points
Credit 1
Innovation in Design
Credit 2
LEED Accredited Professional
1-5 1
; Prerequisite 1
Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems
Required
Regional Priority
; Prerequisite 2
Minimum Energy Performance
Required
Credit 1
; Prerequisite 3
Fundamental Refrigerant Management
Required
________________________________________________________________________
Credit 1
Optimize Energy Performance
Credit 2
On-site Renewable Energy
1–7
Credit 3
Enhanced Commissioning
2
Credit 4
Enhanced Refrigerant Management
2
Certified
40–49 points
Credit 5
Measurement and Verification
3
Silver
50–59 points
Credit 6
Green Power
2
Materials and Resources ; Prerequisite 1
Storage and Collection of Recyclables
Credit 1.1
Building Reuse—Maintain Existing Walls, Floors and Roof
Credit 1.2
Building Reuse—Maintain Existing Interior Nonstructural Elements
Credit 2
Construction Waste Management
1–19
LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovations 100 base points; 6 possible Innovation in Design and 4 Regional Priority points
Gold
60–79 points
Platinum
80 points and above
Required 1-3 1 1-2
Credit 3
Materials Reuse
1-2
Recycled Content
1-2
vi
1-4
14 Possible Points
Credit 4
LEED 2009 FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND MAJOR RENOVATIONS
4 Possible Points Regional Priority
LEED 2009 FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND MAJOR RENOVATIONS vii
Figure 29: LEED checklist from the U.S. Green Building Council.
31
san
diego
library
|
site
assessment
Figure 30: View of the San Diego harbor and downtown skylne on a clear day.
32
7
site assessment
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 revitalization 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 downtown, 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
33
san
diego
library
|
Figure 31: Rendering of the downtown San Diego area.
Figure 32: View of the Gaslamp Quarter Historical district in downtown San Diego.
site
assessment
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. Furthermore, 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, Balboa 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 minimum 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 appealable 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 protected. The library design should adhere and look to benefit from such a regulation.
34
Public Parking
Library Site
Freeways
Park-to-Bay Promenade
MTS Trolley Route
Figure 33: Map of downtown San Diego with a diagram showing various connections and parking spaces related to proposed library site.
35
san
diego
library
|
site
assessment
C
F
D
G
E
H
A
B
Figures 34A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H: Views of and around the proposed downtown central San Diego Public Library.
36
San Diego Municipal Code
Final per City Council Action February 28, 2006
Chapter 15: Planned Districts
Library Site
Library Site
Ch. Art. Div.
15
Figure 35: Map of downtown San Diego and its individual communities.
Figure 36: Map of FAR boundaries of downtown San Diego, regulated by CCDC.
1
3
83
37
san
diego
library
|
conclusion
38
8
conclusion
As Henry Ward Beecher once said, “A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessities 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 structure, 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.
39
san
diego
library
|
conclusion
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 progress 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.
40
ACTIVATEDCIVIC COMMUNITY FREE ADAPTABLE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION ECONOMIC HOPE DYNAMIC KNOWLEDGE PRIDE REGIONAL INFORMATION SUSTAINABLE
41
san
diego
library
|
annotated
bibliography
42
annotated bibliography
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 downtown 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.
43
san
diego
library
|
annotated
Bennett, David. Exploring Concrete Architecture: Tone, Texture, Form. Switzerland: Birkhauser, 2001.
bibliography
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.
The concrete building material is explored, and its use in different building types Crosbie, Michael J. Architecture for the Books. New York: Images Publishing Dist A/C, is studied and looked into. Concrete is one of the most widely used materials around 2006. 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 Looks at some of the better library projects from the recent past with everything out other regions. from small community public libraries, to large commercial research libraries, and state-of-the-art university centers for information and socializing. The book provides Norten, Enrique, and Deyan Sudjic. Working: 20 Projects in Process. New York: Penguin many large format plans, sections, diagrams, and extensive photographs of interiors Group, 2007. and exteriors as well as details of libraries throughout the world. Twenty different projects, that includes libraries, are looked at as they are designed Psarra, Sophia. Architecture and Narrative: The Formation of Space and Cultural Meaning. and thought out before it goes into the construction stage. Most of the projects have Michigan: Routledge Publishers, 2009. sites located in urban settings, and helped in the exploration of how successful urban facilities function. This book looks at the architectural profession and design process in a very different way, by seeing it as the art of a thinking mind that arranges, organizes and estaBazillion, Richard J., and Braun, Connie. Academic Libraries as High-Tech Gateways: A blishes relationships between the parts and the whole. It is also seen as the art of Guide to Design and Space Decisions. St. Petersburg: American Library Association, designing spaces, which one experiences through movement and use. The ideas 1995. of conceptual ordering, spatial and social narratives are seen as fundamental to the ways in which buildings are shaped. This text advocates the need for flexibility in library design, and encourages discussion on preparing for the library of the future and on the librarian’s role in the teach- Murphy, Tish. Library Furnishings: A Planning Guide. New York: McFarland & Company, ing of electronic skills. It uses the tool of case studies to look at the problems that 2007. 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 This book begins with the premise that the life expectancy of a typical library is 20 of librarians and architects who recently worked on library building projects. 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 Lushington, Nolan. Libraries Designed for Users: A 21st Century Guide. New York: Nealany librarian or architect to make informed, cost-effective decisions. Schuman Publishers, 2002. Loukatiou-Sideris, Anastasia. Urban Design Downtown: Poetics and Politics of Form. Berkley: The author of this book had experience as a library design consultant, library direUniversity of California, 1998. 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 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 projects, 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 reliance 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.