Todd Jersey Architecture was asked by the citizens group, Concerned Library Users, to examine two historic libraries, the West and South Berkeley branches, as well as the design plans that call for their demolition and replacement. In both cases, we found that that the structure and program goals set forth for the two libraries can be elegantly, economically and creatively met by retaining and working with the existing buildings.
We created alternative designs to the proposed new structures that use the existing buildings as places of “embodied civic presence” and elegance to create interest and presence. By working with the inherent beauty of the original buildings, we save money by not having to recreate and reestablish that beauty, scale and harmony with entirely new architectural fabric. Our design schemes utilize vertical space to economically increase the building and program size at the same or less cost, avoiding expensive architectural elements and tall volumes which the proposed schemes need to do to create civic presence. We create renewed civic presence in the restoration and reemployment of the original buildings into a beautiful and vastly more economical whole.
To review the recommendations, please refer to these documents:
West Berkeley Library Design Scheme
South Berkeley Library Design Scheme