These renderings are preliminary. Brick and other materials are subject to change. The building will feature brick and stone from local quarries. The building was designed from the inside out. Efficient and attractive interior spaces and ease of movement through the building were highest priorities. That and the overwhelming demand for many windows led to the current design. Here are some of the exciting features of this design:
- As a response to popular demand, floor to ceiling windows on the east side of the building offering views of the creek and the mountains.
- Comfortable seating in designated quiet areas placed near windows and other attractive areas.
- Meeting rooms and adult spaces which are separate from children and teen areas.
- Quiet, enclosed (but still visible) computer areas.
- Round area on corner of Main St. and Center St. is children's reading area. This feature allows pedestrians outside the building to see the light, colors and activities happening inside the building.
- The design intentionally brings natural light into the building while maintaining a connection to beautiful outdoor surroundings.
We invite your comments.
These renderings are preliminary. Brick and other materials are subject to change. The building will feature brick and stone from local quarries. The building was designed from the inside out. Efficient and attractive interior spaces and ease of movement through the building were highest priorities. That and the overwhelming demand for many windows led to the current design. Here are some of the exciting features of this design:
Love the windows. So excited to get a new library.
ReplyDeleteWindows are great, but the building style does not fit the area or downtown feel that has been established in the past or in the recent building additions to downtown. There is some beautiful architectural features of the downtown buildings, rather than trying to modernize the library style look to the past for design and aesthetics.
ReplyDeleteI hope that this new building will not feature the energy wasting lights that illuminate the new municipal building. I also hope that the library will be open on Sundays so my family can use it when my husband is off work. WiFi is also a must. Looking forward to finally having a decent library in town.
ReplyDeleteAre you blind, suzyg? The past design and aesthetics of Springville are clearly present in the above design.
ReplyDeleteMy only beef with the design is the lack of entrance on the street. Other than that, this is perfect for Springville, and any delays that would result from an uneccessary redesign would be bad for Springville.
Don't listen to the nay-sayers on style. This is perfect! There is a slight Echo of some of the older buildings in town(best seen from the north-west view), but a firm decision to move in a new direction.
ReplyDeleteKen Parkinson
Springville
Don't like the modern style. The library should resemble the new City building and Fire Department. It will stick out like a sore thumb.
ReplyDeleteI love the new library building design - especially the children's reading area and the floor to ceiling windows. It will be a beautiful building that our whole family will enjoy!
ReplyDeleteLove the design. I'm glad it is different than the city buildings since it isn't an office building. We need a little modern in Springville--it is a piece of art for Art City.
ReplyDeleteThe building design is too modern. I agree that the design of the new library should be more classic to match with the look of the other new buldings. Visually it's not balanced and has no charm to it. Make it classic; that's what libraries are all about. I like the idea of having lots of windows but the building looks more like a factory than a library.
ReplyDeleteThe round area for the childrens section is nice, and there are a lot of nice qualities to it. For interest of the city I believe it would be better to not have to come up with a completely new design, but rather de-moderninize it. Make subtle changes to give it more of a classic feel.
ReplyDeleteThe building will look good regardless when it is finished, but after 5-10 years it will look out-dated. It would be nice to know that if we do have to wait 25 years before we get a new library, at least it will still look nice if it recieves more of a classic approach.
Lovely! I am so excited to have a library that will be big enough for several years to come. In response to other comments, the building does not need to be classic. Reading always encourages us to be forward thinking even as we look back toward classical writing. Reflecting that in the building is exciting.
ReplyDeleteThe new library design incorporates many of the features requested by the community--lots of windows on the east, a more interesting north and wast face, and design features that tie the library in with the city building and fire station--not to mention plenty of space. Bravo to everyone involved!
ReplyDeleteThe Library will be dated. Consider the campuses of U of U, and USU versus BYU's stuck-in-the-70's style. Classic architecture tried and proven over time is a must. We don't want art city to no longer be visionary 5 years down the road. Consider down town Provo and their city buildings. They match. While the library is not a city office it is a city buildling. And I think should match.
ReplyDeleteI think we should be grateful that we are even getting a new library! I for one feel very blessed! I have lived here for five years and am excited at the progress that our little city is making.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is too modern. It should match the architecture of the new City building. Just use, to a degree, the same design, and just add more window.
ReplyDeleteThis contemporary design will go out of fashion a lot sooner than the new City building. The City buildings architecture will still look somewhat new in 20-30 years.
Looks like a Carl's Jr. - Super Sized!
ReplyDeleteI think that while we should be grateful we have a say on the design also. We are paying the taxes on it...for years to come when it is no longer a modern wonder, but an old testament of "modern"
ReplyDeleteI agree that the building looks far too modern. Consider the beauty of the Trivani building and the other beautiful historic buildings of Main Street. Springville is known for its historic downtown area, and I for one wouldn't want some random modern structure to taint it. I am excited for the new library, but with all the money we are paying for it, let's do it right! Listen to the majority of the comments on this blog. Most of them call for a classic design. When the library had the votes for design, there were no classic designs available. Whoever is in charge must have the vision of a modern building, but they should consider the ideas of the people paying for it.
ReplyDeleteThe design looks great! I hope lots of color is used as well as a lot of art from Springville artists displayed. THey could commision a local artist or group of artists to paint murals and do stained glass. I can't wait to check out my first book!
ReplyDeleteI think the building looks beautiful but expensive. I hope there will still be some money left to buy books, dvd's, periodicals, reference books, books on cd, etc. That's the real purpose of a library not a building that looks like a piece of art. I think it's great for everyone including the city to simplify during these trying times.
ReplyDeleteI am very excited for a new library and all the improved services for Springville residents but I am also disappointed in the very modern design of it. I would like to see the library have a more historic look that fits better with the small-town feel we have come to love since we moved here. This library looks like it would fit better in a more metropolitan area.
ReplyDeleteDid I miss something? I went to both meetings that the designers held and this looks nothing like the buildings I was shown. Why did I waste my time? The designers had their ideas already and it didn't make any difference what we wanted...I hope the city council will remember what they said at those meetings, they would listen to the citizens! Please make a decision that will fit in with OUR DOWNTOWN
ReplyDeleteI beg your pardon, but did any of you read andy part of the paragraph and bullets below the PRELIMINARY renderings? Here is what some of it said: "The building was designed from the inside out. Efficient and attractive interior spaces and ease of movement through the building were highest priorities. That and the overwhelming demand for many windows led to the current design." It seems to me that they have taken into account many of the things citizens thought to be important on the INSIDE of the library. Does it really matter what the outside looks like if the inside is what most of the requests and opinions were for? Quite honestly, I can see features taken from various buildings in the city in the new library design. Such as the Trifani building, the Art Museum and others. It's unique, fun and totally fits Springville history and the "Art City." Thanks for letting me express my opinions on the matter.
ReplyDeleteI hope there's a bronze plaque next to the front door as a reminder of who's responsible for the huge design mistake. It's something their grandchildren won't be proud of.
ReplyDeleteSpringville editorial on library building
ReplyDeletePosted by: Our Towns Host on March 31, 2009
In May of 2008, the Springville City Council approved design standards applying to all new residential construction within the city's historic district. This district includes Springville's central historical area, also known as "Plat A" and contained within the boundaries of 400 South, 400 East, 400 North and 400 West, along with some additional blocks to the south.
According to a document describing the design standards (available at www.springville.org), the standards "are intended to help preserve, stabilize and improve the area" and "are an important piece of an overall puzzle that will lead to a strong, attractive and desirable neighborhood and eventually overcome the neglect of this significant part of Springville's history, character and identity."
The standards provide specific instructions for those building new homes and adding on to existing structures regarding the architectural styles and building materials allowed in the area. One section of the document states, "New houses shall be built based on historic types from the Springville Historic District." The Design Review Board was also set up to ensure the standards are followed. According to Springville Community Development Director J. Fred Aegerter, city staff is currently developing similar standards for commercial construction within the historic district.
The city's efforts to preserve and protect Springville's heritage in this manner should be applauded. Now, as city officials look toward building what will become a major landmark in the city - one that will be central to the historic district - it is obvious that they should continue these efforts and follow similar construction standards.
A proposed artist's rendering released prior to the bond election showed a library with a sleek, modern design. Many of the photos of buildings provided by the architects for public comment during a meeting March 12 also had a very modern look. City council members should reject any plan with a modern design and instead demand a look that is harmonious with the surrounding area. It would be a shame to put a process in place for protecting the character of the historic district, then toss out that process when considering the construction of what will be one of the district's largest buildings.
I agree with the majority of the previous comments. When the current library was built, it was a beautiful, modern building. Now, obviously, the design has aged. I foresee a similar fate for the new building. While it sports a striking design now, it would be more beneficial for the value of downtown and surrounding areas for the building to display a more traditional, timeless architecture. Please leave the building design, just tweak the surface characteristics.
ReplyDeleteWhile I applaud the efforts toward the interior planning, I also agree with the comment that suggested less spending on the building and more on the library resources. Hopefully that cause is already in effect. I also LOVE Jenny's idea of hanging original local art inside!
It is the city library is it not? Match the exterior style to the new city office building and new city fire stations. The city just spent a lot of time and money matching up the new 400 South entrance to the city and the fences that surround the Evergreen city cemetery to match the Historic city cemetery. Makes sense that they get it right the first time here and match the exteriors up. They are city owned and operated. Help us recognize what they are and who they belong to.
ReplyDeleteA few points to make...
ReplyDeleteSpringville deserves more, a lot more! It is clear that the citizens of Springville feel slighted by the development of the new City Library. The big question however is, "Does Springville need a resurrected, turn of the century, architypical and referential library? - No! Most certainly not! While most on this blog state that the proposed building will be dated in just a few years, I would propose that it is already dated. Although certain technologies that will be apart of the new library will be innovative (or at least current), the design and style is not even that. The "Architects" for the building are not/were not traditionally (turn-of-the-century) trained. How can the City of Springville and its citizens expect a traditional building when such a thing cannot be replicated? - another time, another place. Well at least not within a budget. The City and it's citizens would have been better served by the original proposal.
Springville is the Art City, yet the only architecture that seems acceptable is something along the lines of a quasi-traditional building, mixed with some utah vernacular and add a splash of historic revival. I don't think this is the answer. And the claims that the proposed building is "Modern" are mistakenly inaccurate. Take a lesson on modernism and return later with a more educated, more informed mind. The proposed building is not modern. It is not contemporary. What this building is, is in an ever-growing class of buildings that plague our cities, our streetscapes and our lives. A mediocre building trying to be more than its below average self. Springville would be much better served by a contemporary library that speaks to the traditions of now and the hopes of tomorrow. We, as Springville citizens, would find it quite ok if our library contrasted the rest of the town. That the building actually stood for something would be, well something. I would argue that a contemporary building actually makes us more aware of the rich traditions of our fathers. By contrasting the vernacular we actually compliment instead of compete.
When defining architecture please don't mistake new with good, trendy with good, or even historic with good. Great architecture stands alone, it makes us stand back and take stock of our lives, it enlivens us. Our problem, the problem of our cities (and Springville is no exception), is that we are not surrounded by places and spaces that move us, that inspire us. Aren't these the things that a library should do? Books transport us to far off lands, empower us with knowledge, and bring us hope in a world so desperate for attention. Can't a building do the same?
I join the countless number of Springville citizens in my disapproval of the proposed, and soon to be, Springville Library. We could have had more, we should have had more.
'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' - George Santayana
Jake Gines
I like the idea of the big windows and more computers, also the age groups separated. I think having two stories will be fun. But I agree in saying that the outside looks like a Carl's Jr.
ReplyDeletePlease fit the library with the rest of the springville downtown!
ReplyDeleteThis design is not 'forward thinking' it's already dated! It already looks old.
Springville already has a great style. Stick to it!