Community Design Meeting Meeting Summary and Compilation of Public Comments

Location: Tenley-Friendship Interim Library, 4200 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20016

Meeting Purpose: Public meeting to provide the community with an opportunity to help shape the design of the new Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library. A brief overview presentation was given at 6 p.m.; following this, staff was available to discuss the project and answer questions. Comments were collected by comment card and given verbally during the meeting.

Meeting Format: Presentation and interactive workshop format

• The presentation included an overview of project implementation and a discussion of design options.
• A facilitated discussion allowed participants to provide comments and ask questions of District library staff and the project team.

Attendees: Thirty community members added their names to the sign-in sheets. Ginnie Cooper, Archie Williams, Jeff Bonvechio, Kim Fuller, Barbara Norland, Elissa Miller and the Tenley-Friendship Interim Library staff represented the DC Public Library. The following members of the CirclePoint consulting team attended the meeting: W. Steve Lee and Tosin Durotoye.

Summary of Community Meeting Comments
Library User Issues

• Is it the assumption that young adults can have unsupervised space at the upper level of the new library?
• How will the second floor be made quiet if the young adult space is located there?
• Would like access to things immediately upon entering the new library. Senior citizens do not want to deal with going up stairs and elevators.

Library Use Issues

• Can you define what the term “active space” means?

Library Design Issues (Interior)

• Any chance interior expansion space can be added to the proposed library design?
• The bar-like enclosures on the interior of the proposed library are cold and constrained.
• Would like to keep view of the green space outside the proposed west wall.
• How many volumes of old-fashioned stacks can fit within the new library space?
• Where will the computers be located within the new library?
• Like the height of the ceilings in the proposed library.
• Do designers have any idea of exactly how the interior of the new library will look?
• Where will the books be located in the proposed library?
• How will the interior of the proposed library look?
• How will patrons be welcomed to the second floor of the proposed library?
• Will lights be left on inside the new library even when closed?

Library Design Issues (Exterior)

• Is the wall on the west side of the new library design structurally required to be solid or can windows be added?
• Do you need fins on the north side of the new library?
• The skin chosen for the solid wall on the west side of the proposed library will have an impact on the interior conditions of space. What considerations have been given to this?
• In terms of the materials used for the new library’s exterior design, it is important to know that copper is an expensive material to acquire.
• Would it be possible to give more consideration to the horizontality of the building so it fits within the context of the Sears building across the street?
• The high roof in the proposed library design is terrific.
• How is the sidewalk positioned within the public space?
• The Garden Committee would like to see more green space.
• Would like to suggest that lights be placed around the proposed overhang to discourage nighttime loitering.

Other

• When will the new library be completed?
• Must keep in mind the maintenance cost of the materials being proposed for the new library.
• What is the size, in square feet, of the proposed library?
• Excited about the new Tenley-Friendship Library and it seems like it will become a reality.
• What can be learned from other library designs?

Summary of Comment Card Comments
Library Design Issues (Exterior)

• The closed wall proposed for the west side of the new Tenley Library is a wise and important element because there is a lot of grassroots and political support for development on that side and in my opinion, it will happen.
• A few solutions to the “skin” proposal are to have trees on the parkway and have some greenery/vegetation near the base of the building where it can add texture and emphasize a vertical quality.
• Proposed walkway should be made out of textured or plain concrete or stone, but not bricks, which become rapidly uneven and can be dangerous to pedestrians.
• Fully support the proposed green roof.
• Like the placement of the proposed library sign on the corner of Albemarle and Wisconsin Avenue.
• Design team should lead by example and help with drainage and street water flow.

Library Design Issues (Interior)

• Would like to see clean, crisp, but warm colors and textures in the new library.
• Like the idea of wired tables and the use of public laptops, which allow for flexibility.
• Balance technology and the future of information with the need for actual in-hand books.
• Knowledgeable and helpful staff adds to the ambiance of the library.
• I like the proposed design for the new Tenley-Friendship Library with its balance of lights and public and private spaces.
• Would like the wall on the west side of the proposed library to have texture and light play.
• Street furniture should be selected to discourage sleeping on benches (i.e. benches with partitioned seats).
• Would like to see neon interior art that is low in energy but adds color and light at night after the new library is closed.

The library is scheduled to be open in the early months of 2010. The next public meeting is April 9th, 2008 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Tenley-Friendship Interim Library.