SR-850-005 (6)
F:\CMANAGER\Staff Reports\MainLibrary.doc
Council Meeting: July 23, 2002 Santa Monica, CA
To: Mayor and City Council
From: City Staff
Subject: Main Library 100 Percent Schematic Design Report and Authorization for
the City Manger to negotiate and execute a lease of a temporary building
for the Main Library
Introduction
This report describes the schematic design plan for the new Main Library at 100 percent
completion.
Background
Community interest in expanded library resources and facilities has been expressed
since the mid-1980s. The greatest expression of that desire was the overwhelming
approval of Proposition L, a measure on the November 1998 ballot authorizing the City
to sell general obligation bonds in an amount up to $25,000,000 in support of library
construction and renovation. Since that time, staff has proceeded with the development
of the Main Library project and selected the architectural firm of Moore Ruble Yudell
(MRY) for design services, Bovis Lend-Lease for project management and Morely
Builders for design-build services.
The initial conceptual design for the new Main Library was presented to Council on
November 13, 2001. It was revised by MRY to reflect comments and suggestions from
Council, the Library Board, the community and staff. Council approved the revised
1
conceptual plan on December 18, 2001. The schematic design was presented to
Council at the fifty percent completion stage at their May 14, 2002 meeting.
Discussion
Schematic Design
During this phase of the project MRY has continued to refine the schematic design and
increase the level of detail, as well as to determine appropriate design responses to the
three concerns expressed by Council on May 14: 1) the pedestrian experience along
Santa Monica Boulevard; 2) the exploration of a water feature within the grounds of the
Library; and, 3) the vehicular flow within and exiting from the subterranean parking.
MRY maintains the belief that the Library structure should respond to the predominate
placement of buildings that already exists in the urban downtown setting in Santa
Monica. However, they have identified modifications designed to enliven the pedestrian
experience as one walks along Santa Monica Boulevard and to soften the entire façade
of the building by modulations of the façade and carefully placed gardens.
?
They have continued to refine the architectural articulation of the street façade.
In addition to the courtyard gardens around the perimeter of the new library,
further landscape enhancements have been added by use of planters set into the
thth
building envelope on 6 and 7 Street and Santa Monica Boulevard. The
ultimate landscaping of the area along Santa Monica Boulevard will be
coordinated with the new transit mall enhancements to be implemented during
2
the construction of the new Library. These enhancements will include new
sidewalks, trees, benches and trash containers similar to those recently installed
transit mall.
?
They have changed window heights on Santa Monica Boulevard to encourage
more pedestrian connection with the inside of the Library, by varying the window
heights as they engage with the stone base of the façade along Santa Monica
Boulevard.
A water feature has been incorporated in the design of the interior courtyard. The water
feature will enhance the vitality of the interior courtyard and coordinate with the overall
landscape theme being developed for the site. Several existing trees will need to be
removed. The landscape architect will be working with the City?s urban forester to
identify those trees that will be removed and relocated. Any removal of transplanting
will occur in accordance with the City?s Community Forest Management policies.
MRY has been working with its parking consultant, International Parking Design (IDP) to
address the circulation concerns. IDP has reviewed the design for efficiency,
functionality and pedestrian safety. The design has been modified to:
?
Add an additional exiting booth. The garage will have two ticket
dispenser/card reader lanes for entry and two lanes each with a booth for
exiting traffic.
3
?
The first level of parking will be low volume parking -- restricted to handicap
and staff parking.
?
The circulation on the first level has been designed to expedite access to the
parking at the lower levels. Once beyond ticket dispenser/card reader, with
the exception of handicap and staff, vehicles are led immediately to the ramp
system accessing the lower levels of the garage. This design will also
improve the stacking opportunity for vehicles approaching the exit booths.
?
Finally, the storage area has been moved to enhance visibility and pedestrian
safety.
The basic service areas and building features have been refined with a detailed study of
their internal functionality. Because the architect has held frequent meetings with
Library staff the service capability and the functionality of the building are outstanding.
The footprint of the building has remained substantially unchanged. (See attached
drawings.)
The concept of the Library as a welcoming and inviting community gathering place for
meetings, study, forums, quiet contemplation and cultural programs has been
emphasized in the design. The Library will be a place to further one?s education, to
read for pleasure, and to seek out needed information. We have come to think of the
Library in MRY?s design as the community?s living room, life long learning center,
cultural touchstone and garden of serenity.
4
th
Carl Cheng, project artist, has updated his concepts presented at the May 14 meeting,
including an entrance that will focus on the ?word? and his idea of creating an
underwater effect in an artwork in the central courtyard.
The project team, in its? ongoing evaluation of sustainability, has identified a number of
features to produce a silver LEED rating. These include:
?
Cisterns and systems for harvesting rainwater to meet all irrigation needs
for gardens and the water element
?
Long term bike parking for staff use
?
Windows that open
?
Use of recycled materials
Currently under investigation are the cost of a green roof and the use of photovoltaics.
Additionally, a multidisciplinary team is collaborating to develop strategies to minimize
the use of resources, reduce any harmful effects on the environment and create a
healthy indoor environment. Life-cycle analysis and a ?whole building? approach will
reduce the impact of construction and lower the operating costs of the new building.
Stanton Macdonald-Wright Murals
An issue of great interest to Council has been the Stanton Macdonald-Wright murals.
Staff has continued to gather information from every source and MRY has evaluated
opportunities for installing the mural in the new building. The Smithsonian is pleased
with the City?s attention to detail concerning the mural and are supportive of our efforts
5
to have it hang in the new library. There is a possibility of examining some of the panels
in October or November of this year. The City is considering commissioning MRY to
engage a museum design/exhibit expert to consult on the environmental factors and
other special considerations necessary to meet the Smithsonian?s requirements for loan
of the mural to the City of Santa Monica.
In order to be eligible for the long-term loan of the mural a number of design features
are required, resulting in substantial cost impacts. These building related issues
include: the museum/exhibit consultant; loading considerations in accommodating the
panels, providing adequate security systems, methods and staffing; around-the-clock
climate control to keep the exhibit space at the appropriate temperature and humidity, if
required; appropriate lighting methods, proximity and levels; fire suppression systems
for the exhibit spaces; control of dust and dirt and control of access by people; and,
insurance to cover any damage to the mural. Some conflicts between exhibition
standards and sustainability features may be encountered.
Temporary Main Library Building
th
Staff is in the final review of a potential lease of the building at 1324 5 Street. The
building is approximately 25,000 sq. ft. and will accommodate about a third of the
current library operation and staff. The site will include some parking and is a half block
th
from the city parking structure on 4 street near Arizona.
6
The lease will be for a term of 24 to 30 months with renewal options at the end of the
lease. The lease rate will be $47,500 per month commencing on December 1, 2002.
The City will lease the building ?as is? and have included $500,000 in the project budget
for rehabilitation of the space for the special needs of the library.
Included in the recommendation is the authorization for the City Manager to negotiate
and execute a lease of this site.
Service/Collection During Construction
One challenge during construction is to keep as much of the collection accessible to the
community as possible. The entire Children?s non-fiction collection and homework help
resources will be housed at the Ocean Park Library. A deployment of staff that will
allow more branch hours is under consideration.
The Library is working with CCS to explore holding children's and young adult programs
at Virginia Avenue Park and possibly Miles Playhouse. The popular Tuesdays With
Books program series may be continued in an appropriate venue, such as the Ken
Edwards Center. The book collection at KEC will be enlarged and Emeritus College
may house some of the large print collection.
The temporary quarters will allow the Library to house approximately one third of the
adult collection. Discussions are underway with staff at Santa Monica College Library,
which will move into a new library in August 2003 with excess shelving space for future
7
growth. Some portion of the Santa Monica Public Library collection might be housed in
that space. Many Santa Monica College students use the Santa Monica Public Library
collection and the public would be welcome to use the college library. The library van
would travel to Santa Monica College once a day to pick up patron requests. The public
will have access to items from that collection within 24 hours.
Budget/Financial Impact
The Department of Finance will begin taking bids in July for the $25,000,000 General
Obligation Bonds, Series 2002.
Net proceeds of the bonds will be used along with other available funds to finance the
construction, improvement and remodeling of the Santa Monica Public Library branches
and related facilities, as well as the demolition and construction of the new Main Library.
There is no financial impact associated with review of the schematic design at this
stage.
The total project is expected to cost approximately $50 million and includes the funds
needed to lease and rehabilitate the anticipated temporary main library building. It
should be noted that funds have been set-aside in the budget for the murals; the actual
magnitude of the costs to restore and accommodate the murals will not be known until
much later.
8
Recommendation
Staff recommends Council:
1) review the Main Library 100 percent schematic design plans and provide
comment and feedback as appropriate; and,
2) authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a lease for the temporary
Main Library.
Prepared by: Gordon Anderson, Assistant City Manager
Wini Allard, City Librarian
Greg Mullen, Assistant City Librarian
Rachel Foyt, Administrative Analyst
Norma Angel, Administrative Analyst
Attachments: MRY Plans and Drawings
9