A LIBRARY DESIGN CHARRETTE

Sponsored by:

September 20, 2000

"The charrette a short, intensive design or planning activity is a workshop designed to stimulate ideas and involve the public in the planning/design process. It is a valuable tool for setting the foundation for the development of a more formal plan. It is not a substitute for the formal planning and design process, but can be integral with it. A well run charrette can be a tremendous resource to the community, and a lot of fun."

The goals of the Library Design charrette were:

1) Extensive, creative input from the community about programs, facilities, location and other issues.

2) An answer to the question, "Is it feasible for the Library to be in the Borough financially, physically and within the stated tune frame?"

The most important reason for conducting a charrette is to gather all sorts of ideas and opinions without "working" them. No one is right. No one is wrong. Every idea is a valid one.

The charrette was attended by about 155 people from the Bayard Taylor Library service area. In addition to the many members of the general public, the charrette was attended by township supervisors, library board members, Kennett Borough councilors, Kennett merchants and shopkeepers and Chester County Commissioner Andrew Dinniman. The charrette sparked lively discussion among those who attended.  No one disagreed that the library needs to expand both its services and its facilities to meet the changing needs of our rapidly growing area.

The charrette facilitator was David Davis, President of the Chester County 2020 Trust

The charrette opened with greetings and brief comments from Kennett Square Mayor Leon Spencer and Library Board President Robin Vannote.  They were followed by David Ward, Chester County Planning commission Staff member.   Mr. Ward discussed the role and importance of the community library as a cultural facility in the county's "Landscapes" Plan.  He also provided information on the projected 20 to 30 per cent growth of the 8 municipalities, which make up the Bayard Taylor memorial Library's service area.

Mark Thompson, architectural consultant to the library board then made a presentation based on the study and projection that he had done of the libraries space needs.  Major considerations included ease of access and parking by library users and the ability to meet the library's needs for at least twenty years and beyond.  In his study he identified seven major and three sub ordinate activity or function areas that his study identified.  These included parking, literacy, entrance and lobby, meeting areas, museum area, children's library, and circulation, with the subordinate areas in circulation including stacks and reading area, reference and technical services and staff and receiving area.  Total space need was projected at 37-40,000 feet with costs varying from $100 to $300 per foot of area.

Thompson emphasized that his study had emphasized the conceptual needs for the library and had not included any specific design.  Spatial relationships between functions were identified for functional purposes only and the work of specifically designing a building would subsequently fill in the details as to what was next to what and how far from one activity to another.

Thanks to the Chester County 2020 Trust, Klaus Philipsen, President of ArchPlan in Baltimore, MD was able to speak to the attendees and set the tone for the charrette. Philipsen's firm specializes in urban revitalization, building rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, historic preservation and transportation panning. He was also the facilitator for the nearby Phoenixville charrette.

Philipsen spoke about the importance of defining the community and the various cultural facilities and how their roles should all be blended into urban form to create the sense of community that people are increasingly looking for in their lives today.  He cited the library as an example of the social capital reaching far beyond its role as a storer and provider of books.  He also touched on the changes occurring as a result of technology and how the role of libraries has grown and adjusted even though some had projected that they would be replaced by TV and then by the Internet.  He concluded by urging people to put aside their pre-conceived notions and look at the questions creatively, drawing on the energy and interaction of the group to come up with more and better ideas.

Philipsen's presentation was followed by a breakout session at which all participants gathered in small groups to discuss and present ideas about what they want to see in their modern library.  Each group then presented their ideas in the form of a brief report.  The ideas most common to all the groups included:

• A community center role, with community facilities and gathering spaces for both library and other cultural and social events was mentioned by all groups as an important feature.
• Convenient parking and access (including pedestrian access if possible
• More space and larger collections for all activities, particularly children’s programs
• A borough location was identified as desirable, if possible
• Ability to perform multiple tasks on a single trip (multi-tasking)
• Courteous and knowledgeable staff (as at present) were listed as a key element
• Expanded evening and weekend hours for family convenience
• More resources in terms of books, CD's, computers, movies, etc.
• Handicapped accessibility
• Physically attractive facility, inside and out

Three design professional firms from the area, Bernardon and Associates, Dennis Melton Architects and Jeffrey A. Norman Architects had volunteered their services to provide some conceptual design solutions for libraries on three sites.  Two of the sites were in the borough and included the present general area and the old A & P property at the west entrance to the borough (hereinafter called the Pia Site).  The third site was the Ferguson Tract, on the top of Millers hill across from the new PECO office complex, which the library board presently has under contract.  Each of the sites was evaluated in terms of its ability to provide adequate space for a building of 35 to 40,000 square feet and for parking.  Interaction with the audience was encouraged and a number of interesting points were made.

Following the architects presentations, a second round of break out sessions was held with each group discussing and responding to the various ideas suggested by the architects as well as adding their own suggestions and recommendations.

Communication fostered by the charrette resulted in numerous lists, diagrams, sketches and a number of common elements that should help guide the library board as they continue in the process of designing an expanded and modern library.

Each of the breakout groups then reported the results of their discussions to the group as assembled. Among the ideas and results reported were an evaluation of each of the sites, a brief summary of which is as follows:

Present downtown area site: 

• Maintains historical tradition and supports revitalization efforts
• Pedestrian and vehicle access are both good although some cited congestion as a possible drawback
• Permits multi-tasking
• Not compatible with one story public area concept
• May cause some disruption of existing businesses or families
• Proximity to schools was a plus
• Potential for phased expansion was a plus
• Minimal costs for land and improvements, higher costs for construction
• Possible covered parking was seen as both a plus and a minus by various groups
• Potential for shared use with other community activities was a plus.

Pia Site in Borough: 

• Space available for design requirements including parking and building
• Pedestrian accessible, including borough schools as well as residents
• Available with no disruption to anyone
• Could serve as a gateway on west entrance to borough
• Could link to red clay creek and future greenway/walkways
• Site was seen as visually unappealing

Ferguson Site: 

• Trees and natural surroundings are attractive
• Fits one Story concept although this needs careful evaluation for future expansion potential.
• Utility service and storm water management need more exploration
• Groups were divided about potential for multi-tasking on this site
• Not pedestrian accessible
• Traffic concerns
• Zoning issue may be major or minor
• Proximity to Longwood shopping centers facilitates multi-tasking
• Less accessible to poor and elderly in borough
• Sprawl contributor or non-contributor various groups had different perspectives.
• Potential for visually appealing, landmark building

 A detailed report on the sessions including copies of all the documents distributed by various parties, a transcript of the presentations and copies of the various exhibits has been prepared and is available for examination at the Bayard Taylor Library, Kennett Square Borough Hall, Kennett Township Building, East Marlboro Township Building.