Residents get look at proposed plans for library
Date: 6/1/2010
June 2, 2010.By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
HOLYOKE -- Last week, Holyoke residents had the opportunity see the plans for the renovation of the library and to comment on them, but architect James Alexander of Finegold Alexander and Associates noted what was presented may not be the final plans.
Alexander and members of his firm, Elliot Guerrero and Tony Hsiao, walked the residents through a preliminary vision during a meeting in the library's community room on May 25.
"It is just an idea," Alexander said. "It doesn't mean this is what it's going to be like."
Alexander noted there are major concerns to be considered in the renovation and one of them is how much of the original historic building can be maintained. Guerrero explained that several ideas were developed, including adding two additional wings to the side of the present rear wing.
He said this approach would require "a great deal of intervention" additional support structures that would add to the costs of the renovation.
The second plan was to add an addition to one side; however, that would have violated the restriction of having the library take up only 10 percent of the space on the block on which it is located.
Finally, the plan the firm is considering is removing the present rear wing and constructing a new addition.
Guerrero said the final plan for the library must not only satisfy the present programming needs, but those of the future.
Alexander said the current entrance on Maple Street couldn't be altered to comply with rules concerning universal access. The solution, he said, is to have the main entrance on Chestnut Street, an entrance that would be signaled not only with signage, but also with new plantings that would guide people to it.
Hsiao said the new entrance would be at ground level and wouldn't require any steps.
Parking is also a problem, as the new addition to the building would take up part of the current parking lot. Alexander said a solution, since Chestnut Street is one way, is to ask the city to create diagonal parking along sections closest to the library. Maria Pagan, the library's director, also said there is a possibility of acquiring the vacant lot on Chestnut Street near the library for a parking lot.
Hsiao said a new children's area and a community room would be located on the first floor of the new addition. The children's area would also make use of the park by having an outside entrance. The community room would have a separate entrance so it could be used at times the library was closed.
The goal is to create a "cultural and community crossroads," Hsiao said.
The second floor would have the young adult and adult collections, he added.
Alexander said another aspect of the new renovation would be to make the structure as "green" as possible. Present skylights would be renovated and re-opened to allow as much natural light into the library as possible. His team is looking into adding solar-powered security lighting around the library and park as well as the possibility of photovoltaic cells on the roof to generate electricity and geothermal wells for heating and cooling.
The current entrance may be covered with glass walls to create a reading area, Alexander said.
When asked about the timeline for the project, Alexander said there would be another public meeting on June 8 and the library board and building committee should approve the first phase of the plans by June 15. It would then take a little over six months to finish the plans and bidding and then construction could begin in a year.
