Presentation made by [Michael Suriano, NBBJ and Tracy Anne Perry, NBBJ] at the IFLA Library Buildings and Equipment Satellite Meeting, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Aug.10-11, 2016.

1. LIBRARY
DESIGN
+ COMMUNITY
TRANSFORMATION

2. We mobilize around issues that move us. We place them at the heart of our business, and we have an impact on them
even beyond our core expertise.

3. GLOBAL REACH
01
01 Columbus
02 Seattle
03 San Francisco
04 Los Angeles
05 New York
06 London
07 Shanghai

4. We are optimists.
We believe design can solve all problems.
We believe it can help individuals and societies thrive, not just survive.
We believe that everyone is entitled to great design.
We advocate publicly for great design and inspired buildings and cities.
INHERENTLY HUMAN

5. APPROACH / PROCESS
COMPUTATION
We de s ig n ph ys ica l s pa ce s th a t u s e
da ta , s m a ll a n d big , to g ive pow e r
to th e a m big u ou s , s e r e n dipitou s ,
a n d w on dr ou s .
SERVICE
We u s e ou r w or k a n d w or d to
con fr on t pr e s s in g g l oba l ch a llenges
l ike cl im ate ch a n g e, s ocia l in e qu ity
a n d w e l lbein g .
RESEARCH
We in t e g r a t e r e s e a r ch in to ou r
pr oce s s s u ppor t in g e n vir on m e n ts
con t r ibu tin g to e n h a n ced
e xpe r ie n ces a n d h u m a n pe r for m a n ce
CONCEPTUALIZATION
We a dvoca t e pu bl icly for g r e a t
de s ig n a n d in s pir e d bu il din g s a n d
citie s .

6. NEW TRAJECTORY

7. A HISTORY OF
LIBRARIES IS ONE
REFLECTING A
GRADUAL SHIFT OF
CIVIC VALUE FROM
THAT OF PHYSICAL
ASSETS TO THAT OF
COMMUNITY.

9. DISPOSITION
ALONE TOGETHER

10. KNOWLEDGE
HEIRARCHICAL NETWORKED

11. In 2010 Columbus Metropolitan
Library (CML) set out on an
aspirational building plan to
rebuild or renovate 10 branches
identified as most in need of
transformation.

12. With nearly $100 million worth of
projects in the planning phases or
under construction, this was one
of the largest capital improvement
programs in its history.

13. NORTHSIDE
LIBRARY
Under Construction
2017
DRIVING PARK
LIBRARY
Completed
2014
DESIGN
PRINCIPLES
Under Construction
2017

14. DESIGN PRINCIPLES

18. GO BEYOND
OPEN
TAKE A
POINTILLIST
APPROACH
MAKE
ICONIC
GESTURES
DESIGN
PURPOSEFUL
EFFICIENCIES
DESIGN FOR
A KNOWN
AND
UNKNOWN
FUTURE
1 2 3
4 5
DESIGN PRINCIPLES

19. A major tenet of the Columbus
Metropolitan Library is “Open to All.”
This alludes to access, and equality, but
its contemporary mandate is one that is
much more active.
1

20. Inviting, compelling, accommodating,
and engaging are its new charges.
GO BEYOND OPEN
1

21. The experience of navigating the
Library and staff areas felt like looking
at only a single shade from the Library’s
palette.
2

22. New facilities aimed at introducing
contrast and variance to liberate spaces
from a blanket of sameness.
TAKE A POINTILIST APPROACH
2

23. The once inherent value and distinction
of the physical space has waned and
that there were becoming too few
reasons to make the trip.
3

24. Design must send clear signals that
express the core of the Library’s
purpose and encourage meaningful
engagement
MAKE ICONIC GESTURES
3

25. Outdated layouts and organic changes
over time have left the Library with
spaces that hinder the staff’s full
potential as they contribute to the
mission and vision.
4

26. We can foster innovative thinking by
designing spaces that make inspiration
and collaboration requirements on par
with efficiency
DESIGN PURPOSEFUL EFFICIENCIES
4

27. The acceleration of change and the
uncertainty of what’s next can prove an
almost crippling burden when planning
decades ahead.
5

28. Providing nimble but not neutral
spaces will allow change while
maintaining a consistent vision.
DESIGN FOR BOTH A KNOWN
AND AN UNKNOWN FUTURE
5

29. DRIVING PARK

30. The new DRIVING PARK
branch library is at once
addressing the challenge of
what it means to be a library
in the information age, but
also tasked with providing a
community with a much-
needed catalyst for solidarity
and positive change.

31. HOW DOES THE PHYSICAL SPACE OF THE
LIBRARY MANIFEST ITSELF IN A WAY THAT
IS RELEVANT TO ITS CONTEXT AND
COMMUNITY AS AN EXTENSION OF THE
LIBRARY’S VISION??

32. The Driving Park neighborhood
has one of the highest violent
crime rates in the City of
Columbus.

34. New Site Old Site

36. TRADITIONAL LIBRARY

37. CURRENT DRIVING PARK
PLANNING APPROACH
HIGH DENSITY SPACE
(UTILITY)
MEDIUM DENSITY SPACE
(BOOKS & CIRCULATION)
LOW DENSITY SPACE
(STUDY & READING)

38. REORIENT BUILDING

39. CUT AND FLIP TRADITIONAL
PROGRAM INSIDE-OUT

40. CUT AND FLIP TRADITIONAL
PROGRAM INSIDE-OUT

41. CUT AND FLIP TRADITIONAL
PROGRAM INSIDE-OUT

42. CUT AND FLIP TRADITIONAL
PROGRAM INSIDE-OUT

43. NEW CONCEPTUAL ORGANIZATION

44. NEW CONCEPTUAL ORGANIZATION

45. SHIFT ZONES TO ACCOMODATE
OUR SPECIFIC PROGRAM

46. BREAK BUILDING TO CREATE ENTRY
CONNECTING STREET & PARKING

47. BOOKS FOLLOW CIRCULATION
DEFINE SOCIAL SPACE

48. DEPRESS QUIETER SPACE
RAISE ACTIVE SPACE

49. INTRODUCE LIGHT WELL

52. HIGH
FLEXIBILITY
LOW
FLEXIBILITY

53. CONSTRUCTION COMMENCED ON
JULY 31ST 2013.
THE BUILDING OPENED TO THE
PUBLIC ON JULY 12TH 2014.

72. INCREASE IN VISITS
INCREASE IN HOMEWORK HELP USE
INCREASE IN COMPUTER SIGN-UPS
INCREASE IN MEETING ROOM USE
INCREASE IN CHILDRENS BOOK CHECK-OUTS
STORMWATER CONTROLLED ON SITE
60%
140%
70%
350%
212%
89%

73. NORTHSIDE

74. The NORTHSIDE LIBRARY
currently sits at a junction of
four significant urban
vectors in Columbus and
rather than one single
contextual driver, the library
is a reflection of this unique
junction, as such celebrating
the scale, material and
vibrancy of these
neighborhoods.

75. / u r b a n g r o w t h

76. / s t i t c h e d n e i g h b o r h o o d s

77. / l i b r a r y a s f u l c r u m

80. A V A I L A B L E
S I T E
/ P R O P E R T Y
N

81. / E X I S T I N G B R A N C H
N

82. / F O O T P R I N T
3 6 , 8 0 0 S F
N

83. / A D J U S T F O R Z O N I N G + P A R K I N G
P A R K I N G
1 8 , 5 0 0 S F
N

84. / C R E A T E c i v i c d e n
N

85. / C R E A T E c i v i c d e n
Nden

86. / A L L O W P R O G R A M Z O N E S T O C O N N E C T
N

87. / A L L O W P R O G R A M Z O N E S T O C O N N E C T
N

88. / D I S P L A C E E A S T F A C E T O E X P O S E I N T E R I O R
N

89. / C R E A T E P L A Z A & R E A D I N G L O F T
N

90. / C R E A T E r e a d i n g l o f t
Nloft

91. / C O N N E C T V O L U M E S W / C I R C U L A T I O N
N

92. / t h e r m a l m a s s
N

93. / s t o r m w a t e r m i t i g a t i o n
N

94. / A R T I C U L A T E C O N T E X T T H R O U G H M A T E R I A L S
N

95. / A R T I C U L A T E C O N T E X T T H R O U G H M A T E R I A L S
N

104. ENTRY 2,203SF
MEETING 4,519SF
HELP CENTER 813SF
KIDS 4,409SF
TEENS 945SF
OUTDOOR
SOCIAL 1,975SF
BROWSING 3,129SF
TECHNOLOGY 2,438SF
STAFF 2,269SF
UTILITY 1,686SF
VERT. CIRCULATION
LOW
OUTDOOR
MEDIAN
HIGH

106. LEVEL 01
PLAN
ENTRY
SOCIAL
STAFF
BROWSING
KID ZONE
TEEN ZONE
HELP CENTER
MEETING
VERTICAL
UTILITY
TECH

107. LEVEL 02
PLAN
ENTRY
SOCIAL
STAFF
BROWSING
KID ZONE
TEEN ZONE
HELP CENTER
MEETING
VERTICAL
UTILITY
TECH

108. ELEVATION: HIGH STREET RAMP/PLATFORM
PLAN: HIGH STREET RAMP/PLATFORM
TO QUIET
LOUNGE
HIGH STREET
UP UP UP
LEVEL 01
33’-0” 33’-0”38’-0”

110. THANK YOU