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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2009
Contact: David Spradling, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7528
Fax: (512) 974-7442
How Do You Envision Austin’s New Central Library?
Share Your Ideas at Public Input Meetings this October and November
The Austin Public Library Commission invites the Austin community to attend Public Input Meetings for the new Central Library with the architectural team of Lake | Flato Architects and Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott. The goal of this process is to capture the vision, values, and ideas of the community. Your input is crucial to ensure that the new Central Library meets your needs. The following five Public Input Meetings have been scheduled to provide an opportunity for citizens to meet the design team and to offer input.
- Tuesday, October 27 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Manchaca Road Branch, 5500 Manchaca Rd.
- Wednesday, October 28 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Ruiz Branch, 1600 Grove Blvd.
- Thursday, October 29 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
City Hall/Council Chambers, 301 W. Second St.
- Tuesday, November 10 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Carver Branch, 1161 Angelina St.
- Thursday, November 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
North Village Branch, 2505 Steck Ave.
If you are unable to attend these Public Input Meetings, you may submit suggestions online. New Central Library suggestion cards will also be available at all Austin Public Library locations and at City Hall.
Once the public input is collected and sorted, recurring themes will be identified as priorities. These priorities will be considered as the design is developed. The design team will share these priorities and the designs with the Library Commission and the City Council at the project’s approval milestones.
The tentative schedule for the new Central Library project is as follows:
- September 2009 ~ Design Team Consultant Contract Finalized
- November 2009 ~ Citizen Input/Programming Process Initiated
- April 2010 ~ Construction Manager at Risk Contract Executed
- May 2010 ~ Commissioning Agent Contract Executed
- Spring 2010 ~ Schematic Design Completed (30% Design)
- Library Commission Briefed
- Council Approval
- Fall 2010 ~ Design Development Completed (60% Design)
- Library Commission Briefed
- Council Approval
- Summer 2011 ~ Design Phase Completed
- Winter 2011 ~ Construction Begins
- Fall, 2013 ~ Construction Completed
- Spring 2014 ~ Grand Opening
For additional information about the new Central Library please call Cindy Jordan, Project Manager, 512-974-7183 or John Gillum, Facilities Planning Manager, at 512-974-7495 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.
Great Cities have Great Libraries
More than 500,000 customers utilize the resources at the Faulk Central Library each year. However, the current building has been unable to expand in tandem with Austin’s population growth. The Library’s collection outgrew the building’s capacity more than 15 years ago. In November of 2006 voters approved a bond to construct a $90 million 250,000 square foot new Central Library to replace the 1979 John Henry Faulk Central Library which has 110,000 square feet. On November 20, 2008 the Austin City Council selected the architectural design team of Lake | Flato Architects and Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott.
Lake | Flato Architects, Inc.
Established in 1984, Lake | Flato Architects has gained national recognition for architecture that is rooted to its place and successfully merges with the landscape. In collaboration with their clients, Lake | Flato creates buildings that are tactile and modern, environmentally responsible and authentic, artful and crafted. Lake|Flato has received wide critical acclaim. The American Institute of Architects selected Lake | Flato as the Firm of the Year in 2004. In 2006, Lake | Flato was the only firm to have two projects selected as Top Ten Green Projects by the AIA Committee on the Environment. A third was a 2007 Top Ten Green Project. In all, Lake | Flato's work has been recognized with 37 national awards (including the AIA's Honor Award in 1992, 1997, 1999 and 2007) and 51 state awards. For more information about Lake | Flato Architects please visit www.lakeflato.com.
Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott Incorporated
Shepley Bulfinch offer clients innovative design solutions in architecture, planning, and interior design. A nationally recognized leader of library programming and design, Shepley Bulfinch works with libraries as they face changes to their physical space and operations, positioning them for their expanding and evolving roles in the 21st century. The firm was established in 1874 by Henry Hobson Richardson. "Richardsonian Romanesque", though now in the pantheon of architectural styles, was a dramatic break from the works of his contemporaries. The firm carries forward his vision of innovation and his legacy of design excellence. In doing so, they draw on their nationally recognized expertise in the design and construction of sustainable, energy-efficient buildings. Their public library portfolio includes central libraries for the cities of Cincinnati, Memphis, and Eugene, Oregon; and the phased renovation of Boston Public Library/ For more information about Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott please visit www.sbra.com.
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