Warm and welcome Library Museum proposed

Posted on: November 17, 2009 | musiclover | Comments Off | Print Article | Rate Post:

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By Heidi Zemach for Seward City News

Several Anchorage-based architects and a landscaper, recently hired to complete the 35% schematic design for the new Seward Library Museum, visited Seward this week to solicit ideas and inspiration from the city, library and museum staff, patrons, and other interested residents. Although the earlier design concept for the project has been scaled-down to half of its former size, (about 16,300 square feet), local hopes and dreams for the building, remain substantial.

The 24 people who turned out for one of several planning sessions Monday evening, Nov 16, told ECI/Hyer designers that they would like their library museum to be “attractive, friendly, welcoming, comfortable, modern, easily maintained, safe, energy- efficient, pet friendly, and kid-friendly.” It should also be wired for the latest computers/internet access; flexible, spacious enough to accept traveling exhibits, and handicap-accessible. The building ideally should feel more like a home than an institution, said Lee Polaske, the Seward Museum volunteer director. It could have a round oak table, like the one that museum has, where people feel free to gather and share stories, said Patty Linville, the library director. Someone suggested it have an electric or gas hearth, which also would create an inviting atmosphere.

Those gathered rejected the architects’ proposal to set the building back away from the street to include space for a small plaza or garden like many public buildings have Outside. Most said they would prefer to have more space available indoors because of the long winter weather, and because there are several public parks and spaces available nearby.

Mary Tougas hopes it will have separate areas for each generation of user, including a place with small size-furniture where children can be themselves; an area where teens can be comfortable with other teens; enclosed spaces for meetings or noisier activities, and quiet spaces for adults who want to read. All wished for great views of nature outdoors, and good use of natural light. But Carol Griswold said smaller, well-placed paned windows, that birds won’t fly into, could supply those views, allow for greater wall space, and be more energy-efficient.

The plan isn’t necessarily to design a genuinely historic-looking building, but rather a modern one, pleasing to residents today, that also fits in well with Seward’s past and present structures, explained architect Brian Meissner. To that end, the architects hope the facility created will include contributions from local artisans—such as the library they recently designed for Homer, which has local artwork throughout. Ideas and local themes that could be reflected in the Seward library museum might include murals, railroad, fishing and glaciers.

Asked to suggest design ideas from historic local buildings that make Seward unique, Griswold suggested that the architects consider the arched entrances of the Rae Building/Harriman Bank, and the Van Gilder Hotel. An arched window and multi-paned motif also would fit into the history of some of Seward’s older buildings, she said. ECI/Hyer should consider the well-preserved buildings on the west side of 4th Avenue, such as the Brown and Hawkins building, John French said. Polaske suggested they look at the Old Depot building, which he called Seward’s “most historic site.”

The new library museum will be built on six lots across the ally from the current library, the former site of the old Salvation Army /Lechner property. The new building is estimated to cost $10 million, or approximately $600 per square foot, including design, construction and furnishings. Funding would come from city, state, federal and private sources. After meetings and visits planned all week, ECI/Hyer planned a final public meeting Friday Nov 20 from 5-7 p.m. in the library basement, to show and discuss the latest schematic designs that the architects have drawn to date.

Project design architecht Jae Shin

Karla and Phillip Oates listen to architects

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