Document text
Check out the Library Architectural renderings: Fletcher Farr Ayotte An architect's rendering shows what the library will look like, assuming no major design changes are made by city and county officials now squabbling over the building's appearance. As plans move forward on the $18 million project, design differences By JILL BRISKEY When it comes to the new Medford library, city and county officials are judging this book by its cover. Debate is stirring within Jackson County and the Medford Urban Renewal Agency (MURA) regarding the appearance and style of the 78,000-square-foot, two-story structure that eventually will be built on the western half of the block between Ninth and 10th streets bounded by Central and Riverside avenues. Although Jackson County will take on the estimated $18 million project, MURA has approval authority over the exterior design of the library. Deputy County Administrator Dave Kanner said county architects will present their proposal Monday at MURA's board of directors meeting. Kanner said the original designs inspired by the Library Design Committee, community members and Rogue Community College, library and Medford city officials will be reviewed. Alternative drawings requested by MURA will also be considered. "Hundreds and hundreds of Medford citizens have had input into this design," Kanner said. "But (MURA) was not happy with the basic design and the (size) of the building at all." According to Troy Ainsworth, an architect with the Portland-based firm Fletcher Farr Ayotte, the library walls will be constructed from brick, concrete masonry blocks and glass. The building's base will have a thick granite veneer. Ainsworth said the original designs for the library were created following study of downtown Medford's existing buildings, materials, window, roof lines and building mass. MURA staff and library architects reviewed the firm's initial drawings during a July 2 board meeting. Board members voiced concerns about window details, proposed canopies and had suggestions for the style and materials used for portions of the structure on Ninth and 10th streets. "It looked like a jail or something," said Medford City Councilman Skip Knight, who also serves on MURA's board of directors. "We are really concerned about this big, long building that would sit on Central. We wanted it broken up." MURA director Don Burt said the agency would like to see the library look like two separate buildings. He proposed creating a solid brick wall with windows at 10th Street that would border a raised section of the structure featuring mainly windows. The project's architects had proposed using masonry blocks instead of brick, creating an effect that would resemble book-ends. Knight suggested adding public art to the Ninth Street side of the library instead of following the county's proposal of a wall featuring a literary quote or saying. MURA also advised using masonry bricks between windows, while the county's plans favored metal panels. Kanner, who took MURA's proposals back to the Library Design Committee, said the members still preferred the county's original proposals. "I personally feel I have an obligation to defend the wishes of the citizens," Kanner said after the committee made their preferences clear. "My job is to put forward that recommendation and defend it through the process." The library, which should be finished in 2003, is expected to last 100 years. MURA is contributing approximately $3 million for streetscape work and parking. Burt said the library project will tie directly into the downtown revitalization effort and wants to investigate every option before reaching a final decision. "We want to make sure it fits in, that it's not a modern building or one that fits in the suburbs," Burt said. "At the same time, we don't want to see an 'old' building built. We've seen it one way, now let's see it another." Pat Ashley, a member of the Library Design Committee and Jackson County Library Advisory Committee, wonders why MURA members didn't bring up these concerns during the many design meetings held over the last year. "It was somewhat of a surprise. I certainly thought everyone was in agreement," Ashley said. "It's pretty hard to make this building look small. It's form follows function. I think that it's beautiful." Once an agreement is reached between the county and MURA, the plans will go before the Medford Site Plan and Architectural Review Commission. Kanner said once the site plan commission grants final approval, construction drawings can be created and the project would go to bid. However, Kanner said the discussions between Jackson County officials and MURA probably won't delay construction. Ainsworth said debate over options between different agencies are quite common. "These things take time," Ainsworth said. "This is very typical. It's very much a part of the process." Burt said he doesn't feel the problems are insurmountable, and knows a compromise can be reached. "I've had people say it looks like an institution, that it looks like a jail," Burt said. "This building is only going to be built once. Let's do it right." "Really, what draws people in is what's in the building," Ashley said. "It's hard to say who's right and who's wrong." Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.