Hello Everybody, Thank you for your interest and responses to the topic of sustainable architecture at Pierre Bottineau Library. This is an extraordinary project that truly started as a community initiative and has been strengthened by the neighborhood's continued support and involvement. The plans reflect the Library Board's commitment to historic preservation and sustainable architecture by renovating and expanding two historic structures at the Grain Belt Brewery Campus, transforming them into a new Pierre Bottineau Library.
The new Library will be an attractive destination for neighborhood people-to gather, meet, browse and read in a friendly and thoughtfully designed space in the heart of the community. The design calls for a state of the art facility that is accessible for all people, technologically up to date with 20+ public computer workstations for Internet access and other electronic resources, and a collection of 35,000 books, tapes, videos and compact discs. Scheduled for construction start-up in Spring 2002 and due to open the following Spring, the project budget is $3 million for a 12,000 square foot library, landscaped grounds and a parking lot. The total project budget represents a combination of funding from the Minneapolis library referendum, the City's Capital Long-range Improvement Committee and a $500,000 preservation grant from the Minnesota Historical Society's State Historic Preservation Office. Minneapolis Public Library's partnership with the Minneapolis Community Development Agency resulted in the purchase of the site for $1 and assistance with site remediation, research and testing. Both Sheridan and Saint Anthony West neighborhoods have committed Neighborhood Revitalization Program funds to the project. It was the initial commitment of NRP funds from both these neighborhoods which provided the spark to encourage broader support. Sheridan has recently strengthened its financial support by committing an additional $80,000 to the project for a total financial contribution from Sheridan and Saint Anthony of $110,000. The design for Pierre Bottineau Library reflects the community's expectations for their home library, accomplishes Minneapolis Public Library's service and facility goals, and has integrated these important elements of sustainable architecture: * First and foremost, the decision by the Library Board to reuse and renovate the historic Wagon Shed and Millwright Shop within the Grain Belt Brewery Complex is the most significant element of sustainability and conservation of our City's built environment . * Existing materials will be reused and featured to the greatest extent possible. Existing brick pavers will be excavated, salvaged and reinstalled as part of the exterior paths leading around the site and into the building. Brick from other buildings on the Grain Belt campus will be saved, cleaned and recycled for use in the Millwright shop. Plans also call for the reuse of the existing steel Wagon Shed structure, and the steel trusses and wood deck of the Millwright shop. The brick wall on Marshall Ave will be retained and integrated into the design. * The Library will have considerable wintertime solar gains given the southeast exposure of large amounts of insulating glass. This will add warmth as well as psychological comfort to library visitors. During summer when the sun angle is high, deciduous trees and the building overhang will shade the same glass. * Skylights will offer natural light, thus decreasing the need for artificial lighting while adding to the ambiance of the library as a welcoming place to gather. * New electrical and mechanical systems will exceed MN State Energy Code requirements and will include: 1. High efficiency air handling units 2. Economizer cycles on the air handling units to utilize "free cooling" 3. Energy efficient fluorescent lighting 4. Occupancy switching to decrease lighting use 5. End-of-the-day system shutdown of mechanical/electrical systems to conserve energy * The site will feature such environmentally friendly elements as a bicycle parking area and pedestrian friendly walkways laid out to foster low energy transportation. The landscape design retains many of the trees and adds new trees and shrubbery which will provide natural shading to the building and site. * Renewable resources are also part of the project including the use of glue laminated wood beams for structural purlins, composite roof panels made of wood fiber and insulation, bituminous paving with recycled content for the parking lot, and linoleum flooring made from linseed oil and jute. * A fountain on the site has long been valued by the community as a historic architectural landmark with sentimental value as a popular backdrop for wedding photos in the past. Now in need of replacement, the community has rallied around the construction of a new fountain and has plans to raise the necessary funds to retain this significant feature in its original setting. When the doors open in 2002, the citizens of Minneapolis will have every reason to delight in a community resource that is sustainable and renewable........for the mind and the building. Questions or comments? Please e-mail me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or call 612 630 6206. Thanks for your interest. Amy Ryan, Project Director, Community Libraries Capital Projects 10/22/01 Appendix A: The following information is an excerpt from the schematic design for Pierre Bottineau Library. The full report is available at Pierre Bottineau Library, 1224 NE 2nd Street, 612 630 6890. Project Highlights Library Interior The design responds to the community's often-articulated view of a place to meet each other. The feel of the library will be of a friendly family room where kids and adults go together to use library materials and computers, teens visit to do homework with friends, a book club converses while sitting in comfortable chairs, people read to their kids....in short, a pleasant place to spend time. Features include: * Shelving for a collection of 26,000 books; 10,000 videos, compact discs, and tapes; 285 magazine subscriptions * 20+ public computer workstations with plug-ins for patron laptops and wiring for potential additional capacity * 83 places to sit (table seating and lounge chairs) * 1% of construction budget, $16,000, set aside for creation of original artwork * Integration of artwork display space throughout the building * Local history alcove with study tables and chairs * Dual purpose meeting space for up to 20 people and, when there are no meetings, a comfortable set up for people to study and read * Ample area for teens with a collection of magazines, books and audio visuals, along with 8 computers and tutoring space * Children's area features space for toddlers, older children and a dedicated kids tech zone * Plenty of display space to merchandise library materials * Two Express checkouts for youth and adults to use themselves * Ergonomically-correct workstations for staff that foster comfort and productivity * Staff work areas designed for smart flow of tasks, materials handling and staff traffic flow Library Grounds and Site Improvements The site design fosters a successful library experience and a community presence. Attractive landscaping and site enhancements like benches, fencing, and bike racks are planned to contribute to the library as a destination, a connection to the Mississippi River and an entry into Northeast Minneapolis. Additional features include: * Landscaping to complement the neighborhood and river with plantings to soften the street and parking lot views * A new parking lot with handicapped accessible stalls * A new plaza that is a rebuilt version of the old one, using reclaimed brick pavers Note: A completely rebuilt fountain and pond will be included if additional funding is secured from outside sources through a community initiative. Amy Ryan Project Director Community Libraries 612 630 6206 phone 612 630 6210 fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC LIBRARY 300 NICOLLET MALL MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55401 _______________________________________ 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
