Monday, March 30, 2009

Question of the Day: Why build the "Taj Mahal"?

The proposed downtown library addition is not an extravagant building. Rather, it is the maximum size possible for the building's site while maintaining adequate parking on site. When researching a design concept, the architects gathered a "kit of parts" by analyzing the common elements among the buildings in the downtown. These included cornice work, recessed doorways with ornate trim, Ashler-pattern stone work, ornate brickwork, and palladian windows.

Each of these elements was included in the design of the downtown library. While the 1941 library building was the only Federalist-style building in the downtown, its character was also retained in the exterior concept selected.

The Site Feasibility Committee's review of the downtown site shows that the 70,000 square foot library proposed for the downtown in his plan cannot be expanded to meet the needs of the community in the future. By including an additional 30,000 sq ft branch library on the north side of the district, both today's need and the need for the next 12-15 years will be met.

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