GOLD MEDAL AWARD WINNER
The Building of America
Durango Public Library www.constructionreviews.com
Facts & Figures
Durango, Colorado
Owner: City of Durango Type of Project: A new library Size: 42,800 square feet Cost: Approximately $19 million
Durango Public Library
(including land and FF&E) Construction Time: June 2007
Built in 1907, the City of
building that could accommodate
offices, study rooms, restrooms, and
The Need: A larger library to serve
Durango’s original library had just
the city’s population while serving as
a children’s center. Multipurpose
the community’s needs
15,200 square feet of space, even
a community-gathering place.
outdoor spaces include a partially
The Challenge: Working on a site
after several additions throughout
Boasting 42,800 square feet, the
enclosed and heated patio, a ter-
the years. With the city approaching
new two-story library has plenty of
race, and a balcony. “The most
a population of 50,000 people, the
space for a variety of functions and
unique feature is the book materi-
library did not have enough space or
programs. Inside, the building fea-
als handling system, which great-
resources to serve the community.
tures collections and seating areas,
ly enhances the way this library
It was time for a new, larger library
meeting
functions on a day-to-day basis,”
- November 2008
overlooking the Animas River
rooms,
administrative
continued on page 7
Gold Medal Award-winning Team Members Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture Architect Okland Construction Company Construction Manager at Risk Enermodal Engineering, Inc. LEED® Consultant
Photos courtesy of Michael Shopenn Photography
colorado edition
gold medal award winner
The Owner’s Perspective with Sherry Taber, Director of Library Services, Durango Public Library Q: What is the most innovative aspect of the project (or of the design/construction process, financing, environmental)? What could others learn from? ST: What was so exciting was the way the project embraced the community’s desire to do the design and construction in a green fashion. We basically took the project from going green to doing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) gold, which was quite a stretch given the time; but it was the council’s and public’s desire to go green. As best we know we’ve made this library really functional today yet met the needs of the future that we don’t yet know.
Q: Was there anything in the project’s process from beginning to end that was different than what you had anticipated? ST: I did a lot of reading. I went to as many workshops and seminars as I could about building a library, but then you have the reality of building the library. You can prepare and prepare as much as you can, but it’s a relentless pace and there are decisions that have to be made and you don’t have the information and the time needed to make the decisions, plus you still have your job of running the library. Time is just a real crunch during the building process. More time would have been nice at all stages of the process. For somebody who hasn’t ever been through a building process, that’s the biggest thing.
Q: If another owner was about to commence work on a similar
Photo courtesy of Durango Public Library
project, what advice would you offer from your experiences that he/she may not be aware of? ST: Eat well, exercise and get as much rest as they can. But seriously, not letting it get you down is important. Everything seems like a crisis, but it will be resolved. If you’ve chosen a good team (and we were fortunate that we did) that team works. Anticipate a very hectic pace and go with
Durango Public
Library
the flow. Make sure your city engineer is right there beside you.
Q: In all your experiences as an owner, what were some of the best lessons you have learned? ST: I think to be open-minded. Listen to your public and the creative people that you’ve hired; try to visualize what they’re telling you before you make a decision. You really need to trust those people that you’ve brought to the process. The team also has to respect the expertise of the library staff and the things that we want; you have to compromise. Sometimes there’s some giving on our part, sometimes on their part. There needs to be a lot of goodwill on everybody’s part. That’s what made this happen so well — the willingness of BRS, Okland, the library staff, etc.
1188 E. Second Ave. Durango, CO 81301 970-375-3385 www.durangopubliclibrary.org
The Architect’s Perspective with Bruce Flynn, AIA, Principal, Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture Q: What were some of the design drivers behind the design? What design materials or concepts were used? BF: As an expression of the community aesthetic, glass lobby walls curve to enclose a public plaza and express an open, welcoming feel. Brick columns begin a rhythm at the curving glass entry walls and continue that cadence through the main promenade connecting the public west side of the building with the more private east river side of the building. These brick columns define portals, which connect to the collections areas on either side. The majority of the library’s collections and seating areas are located on the east side of the building, with mountain and river views, and with visits for the children from Thomas the [Tank] Engine. The Durango Public Library anticipates achieving LEED® gold certification in part through the use of a raised floor system, efficient wall and roof assemblies, natural daylighting and sunshades where appropriate, and highly efficient mechanical and electrical systems.
Q: What were the greatest challenges encountered on this project, either from your firm’s point of view or as a project team? BF: The site required a building mass with a short axis in the west-east direction, which presented a challenging design opportunity from the standpoint of maximizing natural daylighting and minimizing heat gain in a climate with strong solar loads. The creative team on this project worked to meet the client’s desire for natural light and views while ensuring patron comfort and efficient building design.
Photo courtesy of Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture
3457 Ringsby Ct., Unit 200 Denver, CO 80216 303-455-1366 www.brsarch.com
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The Construction Manager at Risk’s Perspective with Toby Tatum, Project Manager, Okland Construction Company Q: What is the most unique or important feature of the facility (or of
Q: How did you work with the architect and owner to save time and/or
the design/construction process)?
money on the project? How was value engineering applied to your
TT: The most unique feature is the book materials handling system, which
responsibility?
greatly enhances the way this library functions on a day-to-day basis.
TT: Good communication between all parties during preconstruction made this project a success as we were able to carry the budget determined in schematic design through the completion of the project.
Q: What is the most innovative aspect of the project (or of the design/ construction process)? What could other owners learn from for their future projects?
Q: What were some of the lessons learned from this project?
TT: I believe the most innovative aspect of the project would be the access
TT: The access floor made us look real hard at the construction schedule
floor, which is used as an electrical, plumbing and mechanical plenum.
and how it affected typical schedule logic through the mechanical/electrical/ plumbing rough-in phase.
Q: What were the greatest challenges encountered on this project and how, specifically, did you overcome them? TT: The project is built along the Animas River, which had numerous underground springs that fed the adjacent Division of Wildlife Fish Hatchery water supply lines. Continuous environmental testing and ground water management systems were utilized to minimize water contamination during utility and concrete work activities.
1099 Main Ave., #202 Durango, CO 81301 970-247-0477 www.okland-const.com
Photo courtesy of Michael Shopenn Photography
continued from page 2
said Toby Tatum, project manager
tions in different weather conditions.
ing include xeriscape landscaping,
to meet the client’s desire for natu-
for Okland Construction Company,
Children’s story time can take place
carpet tiles, a raised floor system,
ral light and views while ensuring
the project’s construction manager
in the mornings on the southeast-
efficient wall and roof assemblies,
patron comfort and efficient build-
at risk.
facing terrace, and library patrons
natural daylighting and sunshades,
ing design,” he said.
can wait for their rides on a bench
and highly efficient mechanical and
According to Taber, the construc-
under trees in the west entry plaza.
electrical systems. “Green construc-
tion aspect of the project was a new
tion will serve the city on utility costs
experience for her, but the team
in the long run,” added Taber.
members worked hard to accom-
The
building
overlooks
the
Animas River, the Animas River trail and a historic railroad on one side
Originally, the project’s plans
of the building, while mountains
called for the building to be designed
are the main attraction on the other
with environmentally friendly fea-
According to Tatum, the build-
modate all the features she wanted.
side. “When you get the perfect
tures. After the process began, how-
ing’s magnificent location along the
Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture
site, it’s worth waiting for,” said
ever, the city decided to take the
Animas River created the team’s
placed the building in such a way
Sherry Taber, director of library ser-
project from merely sustainable to
greatest challenge. Because the river
that truly captured the beauty of
vices for Durango Public Library.
earning Leadership in Energy and
had numerous underground springs
the river and mountain views, while
Citizens and visitors alike love the
Environmental Design (LEED®) gold
that fed the adjacent Division
Okland Construction brought in
trail, which is an incredibly popular
certification. “What was so exciting
of Wildlife fish hatchery water
great subcontractors and worked
place in Durango. “We have this
was the way the project embraced
supply lines, continuous environ-
hard to keep on schedule. “It’s been
wonderful thoroughfare for people
the community’s desire to do the
mental testing and ground water
amazing to watch that process
to access the library,” said Taber.
design and construction in a green
management systems needed to be
unfold and everything it takes to
In addition to access from the trail,
fashion,” said Taber.
utilized to minimize water contami-
make it work,” said Taber.
there is a public transportation stop
Enermodal
Engineering,
Inc.
right in front of the library and an
served as the LEED® consultant on
abundance of on-site parking.
nation during utility and concrete work activities.
The team’s hard work paid off in a modern library that features
the project. “We worked closely
Another project challenge, accord-
breathtaking views and provides the
The building’s main entrance is
with the team to identify the costs
ing to Bruce Flynn, AIA, principal for
space, programs and features that
on the west side, which is the public
and benefits of sustainable design
Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture,
were needed — and wanted —
side of the site, and is connected to
solutions early on. We presented
the project’s architect, was that the
by the community. In addition,
the more private east side of the site
the analysis to the owner and con-
site required a building mass with a
its design is flexible and will accom-
with a prominent two-story prom-
vincingly demonstrated that the
short axis in the west-east direction,
modate the future and chang-
enade. The terrace and the balcony
direction the team proposed made
presenting a challenging design
ing technology. Flynn said, “The
on the east side allow visitors to sit
economic and sustainable sense,”
opportunity from the standpoint of
Durango Public Library is a true
by the river and enjoy the mountain
said Susan Reilly, PE, president of
maximizing natural daylighting and
public building — it embodies the
views while the partially enclosed
Enermodal Engineering.
minimizing heat gain in a climate
values of the community in which it
fea-
with strong solar loads. “The cre-
resides.” n
tures incorporated into the build-
ative team on this project worked
and heated patio on the north side provides space for a variety of func-
gold medal award winner
Environmentally
friendly
— Stacey Nathanson
colorado edition
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