Board Chooses new Library
At its meeting on September 24, the Ames Public Library Board of Trustees decided to begin design of a new library building and parking structure at the site of the parking lot east of City Hall.
This decision came after many months of public meetings, community input, and deliberation. Based on the intention to keep the library downtown and to use land already owned by the City of Ames, the site selection came down to two options: demolition of the 1984 portion of the current building and reconstruction to accommodate current and future needs, or building a new building with parking solution at 6th and Clark. After discussing the pros and cons of both options and hearing from various interest groups within the community, Ames Public Library's Board of Trustees voted 6 to 2 to instruct the architect to design for the 6th and Clark site.
The Board members that voted in favor of this option gave a variety of reasons, including increased flexibility to design for the future with energy efficiency in mind, the lack of need for a temporary library site for the two years it would take to reconstruct at the current site, and inefficiency in destroying the 1984 addition to the Library in order to build a larger version for the same purpose.
“The new building will be state-of-the-art in the library’s needs and in energy efficiency,” said trustee Dudley Luckett. “It will be a great statement to the Ames community. With two downtown buildings we can be proud of, we can have our cake and eat it too.”
The next phase of the library building project will focus on design. Public forums are being scheduled to gather public input on the architecture, style, and design of the new library.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Board Chooses New Library
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3 comments:
As an Ames native, I have many fond memories of time spent throughout my youth at the APL.
While I understand the Board's decision and think a new APL building could be great for the Library and for downtown, I hope that the City and Library will work together on discussing progressive possible uses for the current library building that respect and protect its historic nature.
It would be criminal for it to fall to neglect.
The issue of what will become of the current Library building is a very high priority in the building project.
Prior to the Ames Public Library Board's decision to select a new site for the library, a citizen's committee formed to explore possible future uses of the building that now houses the Library. While nothing definitive was determined, a number of possibilities were discussed.
Rest assured, we will continue to explore uses of the current building that compliment the cultural and social opportunities of the Main Street Cultural District. Feel free to post any ideas or suggestions here.
We have an "Iowa Hall of Fame," why not something like an "Ames Hall of Pride?" So many wonderful achievements can be traced to the community of Ames and Iowa State University.
OR What about a Science Center of some sort? What a great resource that would be for the Ames community and schools!
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