Art
Libraries Society of
Workshop
IX.
Building the 21st-Century Library: Space
Planning
Tue.
April 20
Leader
Marla
Appelbaum,
AIA, architectural consultant
Moderator
Paul
Glassman,
Sponsor
This
workshop addressed space planning as an essential component of any successful
interior or architectural design project, whether the need is to refurbish a
reading room or plan a new building.
Ms.
Appelbaum began with a discussion of reasons to build, which include expanded
use, insufficient space, building condition, staff availability, greater
efficiently, and improved security.
She discussed the need for self-analysis, the nature and scope of
architectural services, master planning, the need to sell the plan to the
constituencies, phases of planning, and
programming.
A
considerable portion of the workshop was devoted to the importance of
programming, defined as an outline for the architect, developed in concert with
the client, of the functional requirements of the design, leading to a list of
spaces and approximate areas. Ms.
Appelbaum discussed why the program is important, what it contains, what it does
not contain, and who creates it.
She continued with an explanation of the programming process, which
includes a summary of space requirements, an adjacency matrix, and room
specifications.
After
the types of practitioners and consultants who may be involved in the process
were reviewed, Ms. Appelbaum explained schematic design, which includes a site
plan, floor plans, sections, and elevations. Next reviewed were design development
and construction, including security, electrical systems, communications
systems, storage, symbols, the construction bid, and the actual construction
process.
The
presentation concluded with planning for relocation and time management. Two exercises followed: a hypothetical adjacency analysis and
inspection of numerous floor plans to uncover space conflicts and other design
errors.
The workshop
answered the following questions:
▪
Why is an
interior or architectural design program important?
▪
How is the
library staff involved in the planning and design process?
▪
What kind of
information must the library director have in order to make informed decisions?
▪
What is the
process of developing a management plan?
▪
Who will be
consulted when the designers have questions?
▪
How will
internal communication be handled, and who will make decisions?
▪
Should every
library construction project have a technical
consultant?