SANTA  MONICA  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  BOARD
 

Minutes of the SPECIAL Meeting of April 3, 2003

To Be Approved
       

A SPECIAL meeting of the Library Board was called to order by Chairperson, Gene Oppenheim, at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 3, 2003 at the Main Library in the Auditorium, 1343 Sixth Street, Santa Monica.

  

Call to Order

PRESENT:

Boardmember Breisch, Vice Chair Edwards, Boardmember Field, Chairperson Oppenheim and Boardmember Stern

  

Roll Call

ALSO PRESENT:

John Ruble, Principal Architect, Moore Ruble Yudell; Michael de Villiers, Moore Ruble Yudell; Tina Beebe, Moore Ruble Yudell; Carl Cheng, Project Artist; Pamela Burton, Landscape Architect; David Selna, Morley Construction; Gordon Anderson, Assistant City Manager; Greg Mullen, Assistant City Librarian; Wini Allard, City Librarian

   

Members of the Friends of the Santa Monica Public Library, Board of Directors were also present for the joint meeting and discussion of the latest plan and interior design plan for the new Main Library. 

 

Joint Meeting and Discussion – Friends of Santa Monica Public Library

Vice Chair Edwards made a motion to approve the minutes of the Library Board meeting of March 6, 2003.  Boardmember Breisch seconded the motion.  The minutes were approved in a unanimous voice vote.

  

Approval of the Library Board Minutes

Chair Oppenheim introduced City Librarian, Wini Allard, who spoke about the planning process for the new Main Library.

 

Presentation of the latest plan for the Main Library

Planning for the new Main Library began in 1988 with the passage of a $4.5 million bond to purchase the land adjacent to the Library for an expansion.  Then in 1998 another bond issue was passed this time for $25 million.  When the long range master planning began in 1995 among the main issues to address were the changes taking place in libraries across the United States, earthquake retrofitting and earthquake safety issues from the 1994 earthquake, a place for children and students in the community, and a response to the demand for new technology and Internet access.

    

The architectural plan from Moore Ruble Yudell contains 17,000 square feet of gardens and green space, a unique water curtain, and a café.

    

The building has been planned as a model for sustainability.  It will feature, state of the art technology, enhanced security and built in adaptability.

    

The project team began working with the architectural firm of Moore Ruble Yudell to design the building.  Escalating costs were cut by reducing the size of the building arriving at the present 104,000 square foot building plus the museum.

    

As the cultural heart of the community the building will include:

  • The Stanton Macdonald Wright mural
  • The Historical Museum
  • Service and space for Children and Families - Children’s space increased by 200%
  • Children’s Activity room
  • Parenting center
  • Dedicated young adult center
  • Various types of meeting spaces - Meeting space increased by 96%
  • Computer Commons containing 50 plus computer stations
    

Ms. Allard addressed the $74 million plus figure that is being discussed as the cost of the new Main Library.  That figure includes $13 million for additional subterranean parking for downtown, $2 million for renovation of the three Branches and $1.3 million for the Santa Monica Historical Museum leaving the cost of construction of the new Main Library at about $57.7 million.

    

Ms. Allard introduced the design team:  John Ruble, Principal, Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners; Michael de Villiers, Moore Ruble Yudell; Tina Beebe, Moore Ruble Yudell; Carl Cheng, Project Artist; Pamela Burton, Landscape Architect; David Selna, Morley Construction.

    

John Ruble, Moore Ruble Yudell, gave an overview of the latest plan for the new Main Library.

   

The Library is designed to be a modern civic building presenting different kinds of qualities on each side of the building which reflect the activities and functions on the inside of the building. 

   

The main entrance is on Santa Monica Blvd.  On the second floor above the entrance is a belvedere, which provides views down Santa Monica Blvd. to the ocean.  The window wall on Santa Monica Blvd. invites pedestrians to look into the Library.   The pedestrian entrance and exit from the parking structure is located on 7th Street and Santa Monica.

   

Library staff offices, staff facilities and book drop located on the 6th Street side of the building.

   

The north entry garden provides entry to the Library, auditorium and meeting rooms. 

   

Michael de Villiers, Moore Ruble Yudell spoke on the green and sustainability features of the new Library project.  Mr. de Villiers stated that Moore Ruble Yudell and Morley Construction are committed to a sustainable building.  They have a mandate from the City of Santa Monica to achieve a Silver LEED Rating. 

   

A LEED rating is a system by which one can measure the level of sustainability that is accomplished on a construction project.  The program is run by the United States Green Building Council and awards are given for achievement in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).   A silver rating requires one to achieve milestones in sustainability features used in the building and monitor the progress of the construction.  Some features include use of sustainable sites, light pollution reduction, water efficiency, energy conservation and use of recycled and green materials.

   

Tina Beebe, Moore Ruble Yudell, spoke about the interior design of the new Main Library.  Ms. Beebe showed various palettes of colors and materials related to the interior design.  She explained that the beach and Santa Monica environ had inspired the design, materials and colors.   

   

Two colors of pre-cast concrete are being considered for the exterior of the building.  The darker shade of the two colors is representative of wet beach sand and the lighter color is representative of dry beach sand.  Ground seashells have been incorporated into the pavers for the courtyard.  A faux wood material made from recycled plastic bottles is being considered for the bridges in the courtyard.  Ms. Beebe also discussed materials for the water features in the courtyard. 

   

Ms. Beebe displayed a floor plan showing the colors and materials used in the areas within in the building.  Interior and exterior accent colors for the Library are blues and warm colors once again representative of the Santa Monica environ.  A terrazzo tile made of ground recycled walnut shells and seashells is being considered for the floor in the circulation area.  

   

Carl Cheng, Project Artist, spoke about the art features that he has designed for the courtyard on the Main Library.  He has chosen to focus on the shadows thrown by canopy as the sun moves across the sky.  The shadow canopy created from sonar scans of the bay will use shadows to play off of the café and outdoor reading area.  The shadow patterns will reflect the caverns, sea life and landscape of the bay, creating an undersea effect. 

   

Mr. Cheng has also created a water feature for the courtyard that will fall like a curtain around the edge of the patio.   

   

Pamela Burton, Landscape Architect, spoke about the landscape plan for the new Main Library.  A cistern will be installed to harvest the rainfall and recycle that water for the landscape.  A drought tolerant landscape that can be sustained by the small amount of rainfall Santa Monica receives each year is being utilized.  

   

Ms. Burton is attempting to create a playful landscape that will invite multiple uses.  She discussed changes made at the request of City Council and the Planning Commission to the public right of way around the building and north entry garden.  Encouraged by the Planning Commission to make the site more green around the perimeter of the building the landscape architect developed planters around the site that work with the elevations of the building.   

   

The North entry garden has been enlarged to serve multiple purposes.  It is an active entry component to the Library and can be utilized as a gathering space.  The native plantings will tie into the architecture and interior design of the building.     

   

David Selna, Morley Construction, spoke regarding the construction schedule.  The project is scheduled to start the 1st of May.  The demolition phase is scheduled for eight weeks.  Much of the material from the demolition phase will be recycled or crushed for reincorporation into other construction projects.  Following the completed demolition phase is excavation and cistern installation.  The building structure phase will take approximately nine months.  By July 2004 the exterior skin of the building will be applied.  The building interiors will take another nine months to complete.  The final phase will be certification and testing.  The building will be substantially complete by June of 2005.     

   

Questions and comments from the public followed. 

 

Communications from the Public

Chair Oppenheim adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m. 

 

Adjournment

Attest:

Approved:

    

Winona Allard

Gene Oppenheim

Secretary

Library Board Chair