Category Archives: Cedar Rapids Library Design

Sustainability and Our New, Downtown Library

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From the outset, the Library’s Board of Trustees charged the project design group with achieving a LEED Gold rating for the building.  While the Gold Rating remains our minimum requirement, we are striving for a Platinum LEED rating. This would be one of only a handful of LEED Certified Platinum buildings in the state and one of the most sustainable libraries in the country.

We are currently working with the Department of Natural Resources to gain approval for a geothermal system for the building. We are also working toward inclusion of a green roof on the project so that our contribution to storm water run-off is neutral – virtually no water reaching the site will go directly into storm drains.

There seems to be some concern with the amount of glass used in the design. Please keep in mind that the photo-realistic rendering you’ve seen only portrays part of the structure. There is actually a fair amount of balance between the use of glass and hard surfaces.  The first floor children’s library and the front side of the fiction area are almost entirely rimmed with glass – albeit the highest energy efficient glass to be had with today’s technology. The rest of the first floor and much of the second are hard-walled with some windows. The auditorium envelope is entirely hard-walled save for the front which faces Green Square.

There is also a positive trade off in the use of glass.  Daylight not only results in a fantastic library experience, it allows us to use daylight control systems to mitigate our use of electricity. Studies show a savings of 30% to 40% when daylighting control systems are used to reduce electric light usage. At the same time, these controls improve the overall user experience.

Project modeling forecasts that we will receive plentiful LEED credits for energy performance, light pollution, and exterior lighting. Our design team is also optimistic that the project will garner a significant amount of revenue from the Alliant Energy High Performance Building Program.

Sustainability has been a priority for the Board of Trustees and the design team on this project since the beginning, and it will remain a significant factor in the building of our new downtown library.

For more information on LEED Certification, visit the US Green Building Council.

–Bob Pasicznyuk, Library Director

Cedar Rapids Public Library Unveils First Renderings of New Building

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CRPL Design

This is the design of the new Cedar Rapids Public Library. Images courtesy of OPN Architects.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – January 6, 2011 – The first renderings of the new Cedar Rapids Public Library were approved by the Board of Trustees on January 6 during their regularly scheduled meeting. The two images reflect the design of the Library from the front, facing Greene Square Park; one during the day and one at night.

“We are glad to have the opportunity to present these images to our Board of Trustees and to share them with the entire community,” said Bob Pasicznyuk, Library Director. “We are building a state-of-the-art library that will serve this community for years to come. This is another step towards that goal.”

The Library building will cost approximately $25 million. The total project cost is approximately $49 million, including land acquisition and preparation, building contents (books, technology, furniture, etc), professional services, public art, and a contingency fund.

The Library design team includes OPN Architects, Ryan Construction, and members of the Board of Trustees. They meet with the Building Committee of the Board of Trustees once a month to update them on their progress.

The project is expected to be complete in summer 2013.

 

CRPL Night

The building is transparent and gives off a glow during the evening hours. Image courtesy of OPN Architects.

Cedar Rapids Public Library Continues to Make Changes

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current desk

This is the current desk, which will soon shift to become a laptop bar.

The Cedar Rapids Public Library West has undergone a series of small changes over the past few months in preparation for some major changes that will begin November 29.

“We are testing a new service model at the Library that will allow us to free our staff from behind a large desk and put them out on the Library floor, working more directly with our customers,” said Library Director Bob Pasicznyuk.

The Library location at Westdale Mall will remove the circulation desk that is so familiar to customers and replace it with two small service points. The current desk will become a laptop bar, perfect for customers who want to take advantage of the Library’s free wifi.

Three self-check machines will be installed the week of November 29; two near the front of the Library and one in the Children’s area. These self-check machines will utilize Radio Frequency Identification System (RFID) to make checking out simple and quick.

Customers who put items on hold at the Library will be able to pick them up independently at new hold shelves. Items will be organized by code (the first three letters of the last name and the last four digits of the library card number) so that customers can easily find their materials.

Changes will continue to take place through February 2011, when the Library hopes to have a new automated return system installed. This system is expected to reduce the time it takes for an item to get back onto the shelves and in the hands of the public, as well as decrease staff repetitive motion injuries.

“Everything we are doing is preparing us to run two libraries efficiently and successfully in the future,” said Pasicznyuk. “Our focus is the customer and how we can best use our resources to assist them.”

The history of our block

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TrueNorth Block

TrueNorth Block

 

When the City Council elected to build the new Cedar Rapids Public Library on the “TrueNorth” block (on the corner of 5th Avenue and 5th Street), they chose a location with a varied past. The more we learn about the block and the history that surrounds it, the easier it will be to design a building that represents the community.

Dave Rasdal wrote an article for The Gazette (10/13/10) which details the darker history of the block. His article reminds us that while there was once a beautiful high school on the site, there was also a great deal of crime and violence marring the area.

The new library will be designed to really reflect the community as a whole. We are always looking for more ways to incorporate this into the design. Do you have a story to tell about the site? Or about the former library building? Share it with us!

Building Our Future

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The Cedar Rapids Library, along with ImpactCR and the United Way of East Central Iowa’s Young Leader’s Network, held a reception Wednesday, August 18, at Theatre Cedar Rapids. The goal of this event was to engage young professionals in the area in a dialogue on the design of the new downtown library. Attendees were given a special opportunity to view the latest floor plans for the downtown library. Because the design is still in the “schematic” design phase, we are not displaying those floor plans on the blog. They can and most likely will change before being finalized. This was not a reveal but more of a focus group, and the information gathered at the event will be used to challenge our assumptions and improve our design.

There were five design priorities highlighted during the reception:

*   Young minds are worthy of our investment.
*   Literacy is cause for celebration.
*   Technology is for everyone.
*   Our community is stronger working together.
*   Paying the bills starts with sustainable design.

These are the five priorities that help guide the design process. While elements of the design may change, these priorities remain the same.
We hope you will share your thoughts with us as we continue this design process. Thanks to all who participated in the forums, focus groups, and reception. This is a building designed for the entire community and we are grateful for the input of all who are willing to share.

Cedar Rapids Library to Use Sinclair Smokestack Bricks in New Library

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The Cedar Rapids Public Library has received four pallets of bricks from the historic Sinclair smokestack to be incorporated into the new downtown library.

“We have a strong desire to build a library that reflects the history and values of this community,” said Library Director Bob Pasicznyuk. “Taking pieces of history and integrating them in functional ways in our new building is one way in which we are honoring the past while creating a civic space designed for the future.”

Demolition on the Sinclair smokestack, located at 1600 Third St. SE, began in July. The bricks were tested by Family Environmental and declared safe to use in the new library.

D.W. Zinser, the Walford-based contractor hired to do the demolition, selected the best bricks, packed the pallets, and delivered them to the Ryan Companies US, Inc. yard, all at no cost. They will stay there until construction begins on the new library.

Construction on the new downtown library is expected to begin summer 2011 with a completion date of late 2012.

Young Professionals Invited to Give Feedback on New Library Design at Reception

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In an effort to gain insight and input from the young professionals in this community on the design of the new library, the Cedar Rapids Public Library, together with ImpactCR and the United Way of East Central Iowa’s Young Leaders Society, are hosting a reception on Wednesday, August 18, from 5 – 7 pm, in the Linge Lounge at Theatre Cedar Rapids, 102 Third Street SE.

The evening will include a presentation by Library Director Bob Pasicznyuk at 5:30 pm, and the opportunity to get a sneak peek at the latest floor plans for the new Cedar Rapids Library. Attendees will enjoy light appetizers provided by Zins. A cash bar will be available as well.

Be the first in the community to see the newest floor plans, ask questions about the new library, and share your thoughts and ideas with the planning team. There is no cost to attend, but we do ask people to RSVP by August 15 to Amber Mussman at mussmana@crlibrary.org or (319) 739-0404.

For more information, call the Cedar Rapids Public Library at (319) 398-5123 or visit www.crlibrary.org or www.impactcr.org.