For immediate release Contact: Anne Q. Ulseth Public Relations, 612-824-1614); 612-272-0588 (cell); 612-823-7417 (home) Kristi Gibson, Minneapolis Public Library Public Affairs, 612-630-6260
Cesar Pelli & Associates will design the new Minneapolis Library for the new millennium Minneapolis, October 5, 2001 - Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton and Library Board Trustee Diane Hofstede, co-chairs of the New Central Library Implementation Committee, are pleased to announce the Committee's recommendation for Cesar Pelli & Associates/Architectural Alliance to design Minneapolis' New Central Library Project. The Implementation Committee reached consensus today, following yesterday's public interviews with the final three candidates. Now the recommendation goes to the Library Board for action at a special meeting on October 9 and to the City Council for approval at its October 12 meeting. The design team of Cesar Pelli & Associates, Architectural Alliance, Michaels Associates, and Ralph Applebaum Associates brings together a group of partners with strong experience in each facet of the New Minneapolis Central Library Project - the design excellence of Cesar Pelli & Associates, the local expertise of Architectural Alliance, the extensive library planning and interiors experience of Michaels Associates, and Ralph Applebaum & Associates' celebrated planetarium design. Working collaboratively, this team will seek to address all the issues and concerns of the Library and the community to create a building that will be a source of pride and delight for the City of Minneapolis. Known locally for the design of the Wells Fargo Center, Cesar Pelli & Associates is an award-winning architectural practice established in 1977 with offices in New Haven, Connecticut, and New York, New York. Architectural Alliance, Inc., founded in 1970, is a Minneapolis-based, multi-disciplinary firm that has received national and regional recognition and design awards, including the AIA Minnesota Firm Award in 1994. Michaels Associates Design Consultants Inc., founded in 1975 in Scottsdale, Arizona, has collaborated on more than 200 libraries internationally and specializes in library programming and award-winning interior design. Ralph Applebaum Associates of New York City provides comprehensive services in the areas of public education, public-space and institutional design, capital fundraising, and the promotion of new products and programs. "We want to thank all the architecture teams who put a lot of enthusiasm and effort into this process," said Mayor Sayles Belton. "We were fortunate to have such highly qualified and talented teams vying to design our new downtown library. Decisions like this are always difficult, but we believe that Cesar Pelli & Associates will design a dynamic and exciting new library that will become a signature civic building and essential community gathering place." Trustee Hofstede also offered her congratulations to the architecture team, and added her appreciation to all those who have been part of the process. "We couldn't have reached this point without the citizens of Minneapolis, who overwhelmingly approved the Library Referendum last November. We are so excited to have Cesar Pelli & Associates on board so we can begin the design process with continued public involvement," said Hofstede. More than 1,000 people attended the architects' public presentations on August 1 and October 4, and hundreds submitted comments and suggestions throughout the two-month architect selection process. In August, the Implementation Committee selected seven semi-finalists out of 32 original submissions. The Committee heard presentations and conducted interviews with six teams (one team elected to drop out before the interviews) and narrowed the field of candidates to the three finalists: Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates (New York City) with RSP Architects (Minneapolis); Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle with Ellerbe Becket (both Minneapolis); and Cesar Pelli & Associates (New Haven, Connecticut) with Architectural Alliance (Minneapolis). The New Central Library Implementation Committee was appointed to advise the City Council and Library Board and to provide project oversight through the design and construction phases. The Committee is composed of elected officials (three Library Board members, two City Council Members and the Mayor) and four citizen representatives. The new 400,000-sq. ft. Central Library is planned as part of a larger, two-block mixed-use project on the current library site and the adjacent block across S. Third Street. The project will include a new, state-of-the-art Planetarium, a vibrant public commons, retail space, a residential tower and parking. Groundbreaking is planned for 2003 with completion in 2006. Minneapolis voters approved the Library Referendum by a two-to-one margin on November 7, 2000. The Referendum provides $110 million to build the new Central Library and $30 million for a decade of Community Library improvements. As plans for the New Central Library and improved Community Libraries move forward, public participation will continue to be an important part of the process. Anyone with comments or questions on the Library's building projects may: * submit online at www.mplib.org/future.asp * leave a message on the Library comment line at (612) 630-6263 * send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] * fill out a comment form available at any Minneapolis Public Library * write to Minneapolis Public Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401 For more information, visit the "MPL Future" section of the library's website at www.mplib.org/future.asp. ### _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
