FACILITIES - THE CENTRAL LIBRARY THE VISION FOR THE J. ERIK JONSSON CENTRAL LIBRARY IV - 203

THE VISION FOR THE J. ERIK JONSSON CENTRAL LIBRARY

The J. Erik Jonsson Library will become a world-class facility that is both a vital downtown branch and a highly respected research library. It will be a reinvigorated cultural center and a major "Destination Experience" for the City of Dallas, that is: • A stronger focal point and gateway to the Civic Center District, linked to other downtown districts with an effective way-finding signage system and safer, better defined pedestrian ways. • Both an exciting communal experience and a quiet personal retreat. • A busy meeting and events center that features greater numbers of programs, and access to more meeting space. • The flagship and management center of the Library system providing increased support to the branches. • A more secure and environmentally protective center for special collections and exhibitions. • A high-tech information center and training facility.

LOCATION AND URBAN CONTEXT

The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library is the flagship facility of the Dallas Public Library System. It occupies a prestigious location within the Civic Center District on the corner of Young Street and Ervay Street directly across from City Hall Plaza, an attractive park, and Dallas City Hall. This provides the Central Library with tremendous exposure and broad vistas that gives its site a feeling of spaciousness. However, a number of conditions should be addressed to achieve the important planning goal of significantly increased patron use.

Finding the Central Library For the uninitiated visitor, the Central Library can be very difficult to find because of the disori- enting traffic patterns leading to it through Downtown Dallas, and the lack of adequate signage. Though the Central Library is an impressive structure it is hard to distinguish it from surrounding office buildings and is not easily recognized as a library. FACILITIES - THE CENTRAL LIBRARY IV - 204 A LIBRARY WAYFINDING SYSTEM

Young Street is a wide boulevard that connects the Civic Center District directly to major highways such as the Stemmons Freeway and the Central Expressway. It also connects with many through- streets running north and south such as Griffin Street and Ervay Street, which in turn lead to the Woodall Rogers Freeway and the R.L. Thornton Freeway. Consequently it experiences very heavy traffic throughout the day. There is no formal pull-off lane on Young Street, making it very diffi- cult to drop off or pickup patrons. Anything that decreases convenience today decreases patron use.

RECOMMENDATIONS

A LIBRARY WAYFINDING SYSTEM

The Library should deploy a carefully planned way-finding system of street signs, street maps and banners at key intersections, along convenient routes of the Library site and building to guide both drivers and pedestrians. Signage system could be quite effective in promoting pedestrian traffic to the Library from other relatively close downtown areas such as the Financial and Farmer's Market Districts. It is equally important to celebrate arrival. Museums, concert halls and science centers use kiosks and posters, lighted outdoor signage and banners to announce their presence and to showcase the programs, exhibits and special events to be found inside. This way-finding signage installation has been budgeted as part of a system-wide library capital project. It may be possible to link this library signage project with a more comprehensive downtown signage project current- ly under consideration by the City.

A DESTINATION EXPERIENCE

Getting more people to come to the Central Library Unlike many central libraries the J. Erik Jonsson Library is not surrounded by important cultural institutions, retail establishments or other attractions that draw public interest. Dallas has many special districts including the Financial Center, Arts, West End, Reunion and Farmers Market A strong “branded” media campaign, that displays a uni- Districts that are relatively close to the Civic Center District. However, the Civic Center District, fied image from the banners in front of the library to the especially the area surrounding the Central Library, appears somewhat barren and disconnected wayfinding graphics at the street, can create a greater from these other districts. awareness of the Central Library’s impressive resources. FACILITIES - THE CENTRAL LIBRARY A DESTINATION EXPERIENCE IV - 205

The adjacent properties to the east and west of the Central Library are currently occupied by open surface parking lots. There is a warehouse-like building across Wood Street to the north, addition- al surface parking lots and a garage. The terminus of the Dallas Underground is a couple of blocks away to the east, and the balance of the trip from there to the Library is not very attractive. The other buildings near the library are either office towers or very large structures like the Dallas Convention Center.

One way to draw more visitors is to make the Library site a more attractive destination. Attractive landscaping elements, additional trees, low hedges, walls and planting beds will help to define small gathering places with benches and tables set under shade trees, umbrellas or pergolas, to entice Civic Center employees and library patrons to spend more time here. Such improvements will also help buffer the entry to the Library from heavy vehicular traffic.

Similar outdoor seating areas have recently been very effectively used at restaurants in the McKinney Avenue District. Even though landscaping did not rate high in importance in the library's community survey there are many recent commercial and residential developments all over Dallas that include great numbers of trees and intensive landscaping, which suggests that there is a very strong market for it.

The Central Library is bounded by major roadways that Outdoor lighting around the building and at the entries is currently at low levels. Improved site experience heavy traffic - making the library both easier lighting helps discourage harassing or illegal activities and helps create the feeling of security nec- to find and more convenient to access is important essary to draw patrons to the site in the evening. Properly designed lighting can dramatically improve the appearance and visibility of the Library from a distance, while creating a sense of inti- macy for the small scale gathering places needed to humanize the site.

Site improvements that draw additional pedestrian traffic Similar planning and landscape strategies were very effective at the New York Public Library in and public use of outdoor space create an environment transforming Bryant Park from a unkempt public nuisance frequented by drug dealers that the pub- where everyone tends to blend into a larger population, lic avoided to one of the most popular outdoor meeting places in the city. The Dallas Public Library and the increased activity level enhances security. must make the Central Library site a more attractive place for everyone.

Make it easier to get people to the Central Library A formal drop-off and pick-up lane can be developed on Young Street. Better yet, locating ample car and bus-loading slots on Wood Street will greatly improve convenience and safety as this street has more space and much less traffic. FACILITIES - THE CENTRAL LIBRARY IV - 206 A DESTINATION EXPERIENCE

Connect the Library with other important places in Dallas via an Urban Greenway The proposed improvements to the Central Library site will link it visually to the tree-filled City Hall Plaza across Young Street. The City is currently developing a street improvement project on Ervay Street across from the Library. It would be wonderful if the Ervay Street work could be used to extend this effect, creating an Urban Greenway that would connect from City Hall Plaza to Thanksgiving Square.

The City should identify other local streets for potential improvement. Similar efforts creating tree-lined walks flanked by outdoor seating, flower beds and water features have had dramatic results in widely distributed locations as Chicago, San Antonio and Charlotte.

Coordinate Master Plan improvements with the library's public information efforts and develop additional special exhibits and programs to make the Library a "Destination Experience" In concert with the physical improvements to the Central Library and its immediate surroundings the Library can create greater awareness of the Central Library with a more aggressive public information program. A coordinated campaign using print and media advertising, external bill- boards, signage systems, and internal displays, as well as mass mailings and computer based notices would draw attention to the Library's services, collections, and treasures.

Similar strategies have been successfully used at major urban libraries throughout the country, to draw public attention to stunning architectural spaces, signature collections, special programs and annual events. The goal is to attract large numbers of local visitors and tourists, and build a stronger downtown constituency for the Central Library. Some examples of these special features include: • San Francisco's vast central atrium • Los Angeles's historic restoration and the cascading escalators in its new addition • Chicago's street level department store style window displays and its remarkable rooftop winter garden and restaurant • New York's newly restored Rose Reading Room and the lovely and popular restaurant facing out on Bryant Park • Charlotte's internet lounge and its very popular annual film festival FACILITIES - THE CENTRAL LIBRARY EXTERIOR IMAGE AND IDENTITY IV - 207 Build stronger relationships with other institutions in Dallas It is recommended that DPL increase its efforts to forge new relationships with other cultural, gov- ernmental, educational and business institutions, especially at the Central Library, where the library has been very successful in building public/private partnerships. The Library should also develop and apply a cross marketing strategy with other cultural institutions in Dallas to raise awareness of the entire system. For example, the Central Library could install displays, exhibits and interactive computer terminals (in kiosks) at the Dallas Museum of Art or the Meyerson Symphony Center to inform their patrons of special book collections or discussion groups related to an artist or composer these institutions might be presenting. The Library could reciprocate with displays of their pro- grams in the main entry lobby.

EXTERIOR IMAGE AND IDENTITY

The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library is a large and impressive structure, which is appropriate for a major urban public library. Its exterior materials are light buff architectural precast and dark bronze glazing. These finishes along with its 10-story height make it compatible with its surroundings, especially the City Hall.

However, the Central Library is not an especially engaging building, and as previously noted, hard to distinguish from many of the other buildings in the Civic Center District. This is due in large part to its neutral colors, its strip window design, which was common in office buildings of its era, and the opaque quality of its darkly tinted glazing. The dark glazing makes it very difficult to see inside during the day, even at the street level entries, where a library would normally "advertise" its wares.

The design of the Young Street (south) elevation steps back dramatically at the 3rd, 5th and 7th floor levels which creates the appearance of a welcoming gesture to the City Hall. There is a sim- The Central Library viewed from the South ilar though smaller scale entry treatment facing towards the corner of Wood and Ervay Streets, to welcome visitors from the Financial District. The original entry-level passageway connecting Young and Wood Streets reflects the designer's intent to make the Central Library a gateway to the Civic Center and "conduit" for pedestrian traffic to and from the Financial District. This passage was recently enclosed during the 1st floor renovation because of security concerns. FACILITIES - THE CENTRAL LIBRARY IV - 208 A NEW DESIGN CONCEPT

The stepped setbacks at the Young Street elevation create broad exterior terraces, or decks. The original concept was to fill these terraces with planters and sculpture and provide benches and tables for outdoor reading. The view from these terraces is stunning. The lush green plantings, bold artwork and places for patrons to gather were features that would have added color and activ- ity, and would have made the Central Library a much more visually interesting and inviting place.

Unfortunately the southern exposure made it very difficult to maintain plantings and public access is now denied due to materials security and patron safety concerns. These terraces are now barren, sun-bleached and boring, and detract from views within the major reading rooms of the library. Serious leaks from the terraces have caused significant interior damage.

There are many exciting opportunities to achieve the Central Library's original design goals and to realize tremendous potential of this wonderful building. The following recommendations look to build upon and showcase the strengths of the original design. View of the Outdoor Deck at the Third Floor

A NEW DESIGN CONCEPT Building upon the grand welcoming gesture of the original design, a new design concept recom- mends enclosing its dramatic setbacks and stepped terraces with a transparent glazed atrium, offer- ing intriguing views into a vast and lively space that rejoices in its contents. This will update the image of the Central Library transforming it into a very inviting and accessible looking place. It will greatly enhance awareness of the building to the thousands who drive by every day, and should rekindle public excitement for this important Civic Center District Landmark.

This concept would have much in common with the transparent "nothing to hide" treatment for the North elevation of I. M. Pei's design of Dallas City Hall, which the Central Library faces. A major and critically important difference is the Library's solar orientation. Facing south, the new atrium roof, walls and glazing will have to employ solar shading devices and new glazing technology to control glare, excessive heat gain and UV damage. Because this is a southern exposure, and given the library's geographic location (latitude), future designers would have many options. For exam- ple, the roof structure could be configured to create a saw-tooth pattern with solid panels facing south to shade and support solar collectors, and north-facing panels would be glazed to infuse the The Central Library should be an eye-catching landmark atrium space with indirect natural light. Currently the library’s two-story window shading devices for the Civic Center District and the signature facility for do not work. The new atrium roof will help correct this problem by effectively shading these areas. the library system FACILITIES - THE CENTRAL LIBRARY A NEW DESIGN CONCEPT IV - 209 FACILITIES - THE CENTRAL LIBRARY IV - 210 A NEW DESIGN CONCEPT

The glazed vertical wall of the atrium could employ external solar louvers to shade its surface, to control glare and to reduce direct heat gain. These louvers could be located horizontally at regular intervals up the façade to control southern light. Similar louvers can also be used in the vertical position to control low light from the west, which can be an especially difficult problem during the winter months at sunset. Similar modifications are recommended to the storefront glazing of the first and second floor.

The new roof and exterior wall should be supported by light structures, such as a space frame or truss system so as not to block views into and from within the atrium. These structures can be used to suspend lighting and mechanical equipment and, along with the newly enclosed exterior walls, can be used to hang plants, signage, pennants, artwork and projection devices to enliven the space and promote various collections, exhibits and special events.

Today most patrons enter the Library from the parking garage or the main floor entry, and proceed The Library’s existing sun-shading devices do not work. directly to a specific floor using one of the central elevators. While this is very convenient, it has A new atrium with external solar louvers would infuse the some drawbacks. Many patrons may only experience this floor, and possibly the first floor to check reading spaces with indirect, natural light instead. out materials during their visit. This does nothing to promote collections on other floors that might be of interest to the patron. As part of the atrium concept, new glazed elevators and a grand stair- way are recommended to improve movement through the library in a way that will greatly enhance a patron's ability to understand and appreciate the resources of the Central Library. Moving up and down through the atrium will effectively orient them within this immense and complex library facility.

Similar designs have recently been used in other major public libraries. The expansion and reno- vation of the Los Angeles Public Library included a series of cascading escalators within a full height atrium. This highlights all the research and special collection floor levels of the library as patrons slowly descend through the building. The new Harold Washington Library in Chicago uti- lizes escalators in the same way as major department stores, "cross-marketing" all collections as patrons move to their initial selection.

The Richland Library in Columbia, South Carolina is an excellent example of a public library that The new Atrium will allow people to easily understand uses the combination of large expanses of exterior glass and an internal atrium. These are used to the organization of this vast library, and will create new visually connect the many activities and resources within the library and showcase these to passers- reading and lounge spaces out of the currently unused by on the busy public streets that surround it. terraces.