Roanoke Library Renovation !!!

I think the renovation to the library will be great, and I can wait to see it. The city of Ronaoke has so much to offer it's residents and businesses. I have attached the full article. I hope you are as excited as I am.

Roanoke has taken the next step in planning a renovated city library and community center by approving a design agreement with GSBS Architects.

By unanimous vote, the City Council on Sept. 28 agreed to pay the Fort Worth firm $225,000 from the recently approved fiscal 2010-11 budget to oversee the renovation.

"It could be open by summer 2012," said City Manager Jimmy Stathatos.

The design process is expected to last between six and eight months, with construction from 18 to 22 months.

When the facility opens, residents can expect a combined library and community center at the library's existing location at 308 S. Walnut St.

The move will add 1,000 square feet to existing community center space. The existing library's 5,000 square feet will be expanded to 14,000 square feet.

"It's going to be really great," said Jesse Ephraim, library director. "At the moment, we're far too small for our existing collection. This will give us some good-sized seating areas and add some meeting rooms and study rooms."

Patrons can expect more space to stretch out with that special book or dedicated quiet space for studying.

"We'll also get more space to conduct some adult classes and will generally be upgrading everything," Ephraim said.

The $4-million project is greenlit for $303,000 in capital improvement funds for fiscal 2010-11.

The current facility is undersized by 4,036 square feet, according to Richard Williams, a principal at the Texas office of GSBS Architects.

Williams conducted the analysis and presented the firm's findings at a June council meeting.

The library would need to be 9,436 square feet to serve the current year's needs and 14,811 square feet to meet the standards projected for 2030.

Williams looked to that year for many projected needs.

From parking spaces to book inventory, several factors informed the study and its future needs.

The library currently serves the town's 5,980 population, which is expected to reach 14,500 by 2030.

With the project approved, designers have a lot on their hands.

"The hardcore, nitty-gritty design is what starts now," Ephraim said.



Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/10/12/2540104/roanoke-books-design-firm-for.html#ixzz12ASKirzi