Tag Archives: architecture

RPL Survey – response neeeded soon

The Regina Public Library has an on-line survey about library services and in particular about Central Library. This will be used in planning services and for the upgrade of the current Central Library Building / demolishment of the current building and construction of a new building. And for planning future library services. All who are interested in the library are strongly urged to fill in this questionnaire by the end of August. http://www.reginalibrary.ca/cld/

Perhaps copies could be printed and given to people who don’t have access to a computer.

 

Presentation to RPL Board – June 25, 2013

Friends of the Regina Public Library

Presentation to the Regina Public Library Board, June 25, 2013

Friends of the Regina Public Library would like to bring forward some questions about the planning to upgrade Central Library.

1. When will the patron survey be occurring, what type of questions will it ask, how will it be conducted?

2. When will consultations be held on the Central Library? What kind of consultation process will the RPL be using? In addition to the on-line survey, will there be a single public meeting or a series of meetings? How will participants be able to share their views?

3. Will the RPL Board publicly confirm whether it is currently pursuing any options for renovating /adding on to the current library building?

4. Based on public interest that has been expressed, FRPL would like to repeat its request we would request that the architects prepare a design for renovation and expansion of the current Central Library building. From the Building Assessment report this is not only possible, but more cost-effective and would preserve the heritage of the current modernist building.

5. Is the Library Board thinking of submitting a new proposal to the P3 Canada Fund at any time? Would this be done for the June 30, 2013 deadline?

The survey done by FRPL found that there was some awareness about the plans at the time to demolish the Central Library building at Lorne and 12th Ave. and replace it with a multi-use facility containing private businesses in addition to a library. Almost 90 percent of respondents stated that they cared if the Central Library building was demolished. Ninety-nine percent said it was important to them that the Central Library building remains publicly owned. Ninety nine percent were concerned that they had not received details of plans to enter into a public private partnership. The majority of people (79%) were concerned with how the project would affect their taxes.

The Design Regina process has developed the following goals that would also support retaining the heritage of the modernist Central Library building.

Goal #1 – Conserving Heritage and Supporting Cultural Development

Conserve cultural heritage and support cultural development to enhance quality of life and strengthen community identity and cohesion.

8.1 Build partnerships and work collaboratively with community groups, other levels of government, and the private and voluntary sectors to encourage cultural development opportunities.

8.2 Collaborate with partners to encourage awareness and understanding of cultural resources and cultural heritage.

8.3 Identify, evaluate, conserve and enhance cultural heritage to improve quality of life and reinforce a sense of place.

8.4 Develop a framework of representative heritage themes that reflects our cultural identity and the diverse values of residents.

8.5 Ensure that the list of historic places recognized within the Heritage Property Register and Heritage Holding Bylaw adequately represents of the themes in the framework;

8.6 Require a cultural resource and heritage assessment to recognize historic places in new greenfield development and intensification at the City’s discretion;

8.7 Identify, and prioritize and develop locations that provide a sense of arrival and departure into significant cultural landscapes.

8.8 Refine the municipal financial incentive policies and programs to encourage the conservation of historic places.

Goal #4 – Culture and Heritage Planning

Ensure a practice of culture and heritage planning in the city.

8.15 Consider cultural resources and heritage implications in all areas of municipal planning and decision-making.

8.16 Protect, conserve and enhance historic places in accordance with the “Standards and Guidelines for Historic Places in Canada”.

This is an opportunity for the Regina Public library to make a name for itself in respecting heritage and culture to produce a design that would be well-supported in the community and we would hope that you are able to take advantage of this opportunity.

Thank you for the opportunity to make this presentation.

We would be pleased to engage in further discussion on these topics.

Masonic Temple Wins Heritage Award

Saving Regina Masonic Temple brings an award

 By Will Chabun, Leader-Post June 1, 2013

Read more: http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Saving+Regina+Masonic+Temple+brings+award+with+gallery/8512624/story.html

Don Ford, president of the board of directors of the Regina Masonic Temple at 1930 Lorne Street in Regina SK on June 11, 2013.  The organization is receiving an award for architectural heritage today in regards to the building´s gorgeous architecture.

May 4 – Jane’s Walk at Central Library

Central Library RPL:  Beauty + Utility

Guided by: Bernie Flaman, Florence Stratton, Martin Gourlie, Jeannie Mah, and perhaps others

Saturday, May  4th

4:00 PM, 1.5 hours, Central Library, 12th Avenue and Lorne Street, front steps

The Modernist Central Library has just celebrated its 50th birthday.   To celebrate the beauty and usefulness of this building which we love, we have gathered a few people to talk about a specific part of the architecture of Central Library that touches them, a special place within the library that they love, or a library service that they could not live without. In the spirit of  Jane’s Walk, we welcome contributions from the audience. We hope that this chorus of individual voices singing the praises of Central RPL will reinforce the importance and significance of this distinctive modernist public building in the downtown cultural and architectural landscape of Regina.  We will conclude with a 5 pm tour of the exterior of the Masonic Temple next door with one of the Masons.

More information about other Jane’s Walks in Regina http://www.janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/regina/

 

RPL Survey re Central on Now

The Regina Public Library is currently conducting a survey about library services and trying to gauge support for the amenities that they would like to see connected to an upgraded Central Library.

Apparently it is quite a long survey, one person interviewed said there were questions like :

Do you think there should be a movie theatre or restaurant nearby?
Do you think it should be located within a mall? Near a shopping centre?
It would be interesting to know what the questions are.
The library is also conducting some targeted on-line surveys and will do a patrons survey in the future.
One  hopes that the questions keep all of the options open, including the renovation, rather than the deomolition, of the modernist Central Library, which the majority of people contacted in our FRPL survey said they would prefer.

Friends Call for Renovation Design for Central Library

NEWS RELEASE: Monday March 25, 2013

REGINA, SK — The Friends of the Regina Public Library (FRPL) are calling for a design for Central Library that is based on renovations and additions, rather than demolishing the current building.

After many months of requesting that material be made public, the Friends’ efforts were successful when the RPL Board gradually released documents related to the Central Library between October 25, 2012 and February 14, 2013. “Some of this material is more than two years old, and we don’t understand why it couldn’t have been released earlier,” said Joanne Havelock of FRPL. “However, we are glad to have it available to the public now.”

“We appreciate that considerable effort has been put into the planning documents and although the original design that came out in 2011 will not be implemented, many of the concepts will be carried forward into the next design,” said Havelock. “There are both interesting and controversial ideas in the Development Plan and the public needs time to review and understand these options.”

FRPL is asking that print copies be made available at each of the library branches.

On Sunday February 24, 2013 FRPL held a public meeting to draw attention to those reports and encourage people to examine their contents. Some key questions came forward at this meeting.

The Library Board had said that it would be holding consultations in March, 2013, but this has not occurred. FRPL would like to know when the consultations will occur and what kind of consultation process will be used. In addition to proposed phone and on-line surveys, will there be a single public meeting or a series of meetings? How will participants be able to share their views?

Participants were surprised that the Development Plan did not include an option for renovation and/or expansion of the current Central Library Building. A survey conducted by FRPL found that Regina residents were quite concerned that the building could be demolished. FRPL is asking the RPL Board to request that the architects prepare a design for renovation and expansion of the current Central Library building. From the Building Assessment report this is not only possible, but more cost-effective and would preserve the heritage of the current modern

FRPL would also like to RPL Board to clarify whether it will be submitting a new proposal to the P3 Canada Fund and whether this would be done for the June 30, 2013 deadline. The FRPL survey found that residents felt that the library building should remain publicly-owned.

FRPL will be making a presentation to the Library Board at 4:30 pm on Tuesday March 26, 2013 at the RPL Boardroom, second floor of Central Library.

Presentation to RPL Board, March 26, 2013 FRPL to RPL Board re March 26, 2013 mtg – final

 

 

Residents Want Central Library to Stay

NEWS RELEASE:  Monday March 18, 2013  “Residents Want Library Building to Stay”

REGINA, SK — The Friends of the Regina Public Library (FRPL) are releasing the results of a survey taken to gain opinions about potential upgrading of Central Library.  The survey found that:

  • Over half (62%) of the participants were aware of the plans to demolish the Central Library building at Lorne and 12th Ave. and replace it with a multi-use facility containing private businesses in addition to a library.
  • Almost 90 percent of respondents stated that they cared if the Central Library building was demolished. Over 60 percent cared a lot.
  • Ninety-nine percent said it was important to them that the Central Library building remains publicly owned.
  • Ninety nine percent were concerned that they had not received details of plans to enter into a public private partnership.
  • The majority of people (79%) were concerned with how the project would affect their taxes.

 

Central Library Development Plan – now available

The last of the planning documents related to the upgrade of Central Library has been released.

 Central Library Development Plan (2010).   Available at   http://www.reginalibrary.ca/cld/?q=node/24

The intent of this work is “to identify RPL’s requirements for the proposed Central Library, beginning from the foundation of the Library’s strategic directions documents, and ending with physical planning concepts.”

Please take a look at this document. Very interesting material!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION

Background…………………………………………………………………….1-1

Descriptions of the Work Performed…………………………………..1-2

Participants …………………………………………………………………….1-3

SECTION 2 DEVELOPMENT PARAMETERS

Introduction …………………………………………………………………….2-1

Strategic Parameters

Introduction……………………………………………………………….2-3

Mission …………………………………………………………………….2-3

Vision……………………………………………………………………….2-3

Values………………………………………………………………………2-3

Service Plan ……………………………………………………………..2-5

Principles ………………………………………………………………….2-8

Role of the Central Library ………………………………………….2-9

Service Delivery Context

Introduction……………………………………………………………..2-13

Background …………………………………………………………….2-13

Social Trends…………………………………………………………..2-14

Trends In Information Management ……………………………2-15

Trends in Technology……………………………………………….2-17

Civic Context …………………………………………………………..2-19

Geography………………………………………………………………2-22

Climate …………………………………………………………………..2-22

History of the Regina Public Library ……………………………2-22

Comparator and Benchmark Libraries ………………………..2-23

Functional Parameters

Introduction……………………………………………………………..2-25

Overall Functional Guidelines ……………………………………2-25

Public Services ………………………………………………………..2-30

Library Infrastructure Services …………………………………..2-44

Other Services and Functions ……………………………………2-47

Physical Parameters

Introduction……………………………………………………………..2-49

Design Objectives ……………………………………………………2-49

Functional Space Types……………………………………………2-58

Gross Space Requirements ………………………………………2-59

Functional Components ……………………………………………2-60

 SECTION 3 SITE AND EXISTING FACILITIES ANALYSIS

Introduction …………………………………………………………………….3-1

Site Analysis …………………………………………………………………..3-2

Existing Facilities Analysis………………………………………………..3-8

Building System Analysis ……………………………………………3-8

Facility Functional Analysis …………………………………………3-8

Resource Planning Group Inc. 2010 January 15

 SECTION 4 MASTER PROGRAM

Introduction …………………………………………………………………….4-1

General Planning Criteria………………………………………………….4-3

Site Design Criteria ……………………………………………………4-3

Building Planning Criteria ………………………………………….4-11

Component Planning Criteria…………………………………………..4-15

Introduction……………………………………………………………..4-15

A. Community Forum and Conference Facility

A1 Concourse/Wintergarden ………………………………4-17

A2 Film Theatre (Auditorium) and Seminar Facility..4-18

B. Library Services

B1 Orientation and Information Services………………4-19

B2 Browsing Library…………………………………………..4-20

B3 Children’s…………………………………………………….4-21

B4 Young Adult’s ………………………………………………4-22

B5 Literacy and Outreach Services ……………………..4-23

B6 Fiction Collection and Services ………………………4-24

B7 Technology Centre, IT and Virtual Services……..4-25

B8 Non-Fiction Collection and Services ……………….4-26

B9 Prairie History Room …………………………………….4-27

B10 Dunlop Art Gallery ………………………………………..4-28

C. Support Services

C1 Library Director’s Office…………………………………4-29

C2 Administration and Staff Amenities …………………4-30

C3 Collections Development, Acquisitions/

Cataloguing & Processing……………………………4-31

C4 Operations and Maintenance …………………………4-32

D. Ancillary Space

D1 Retail and Community Services ……………………..4-33

D2 Long Term Expansion Space…………………………4-34

E. General Support Space

E1 Parking ……………………………………………………….4-35

 SECTION 5 PHYSICAL PLAN

Introduction …………………………………………………………………….5-1

Process to Develop Planning Options ………………………………..5-2

Objectives/Terms of Reference for Planning……………………….5-3

Unconstrained Library Building Layout on

Unconstrained Site …………………………………………………….5-4

Contextual Layouts ………………………………………………………….5-7

Option 1 – Stand-Alone Library……………………………………5-7

Option 2 – Library Integrated with

Comprehensive Development………………………………….5-9

Resource Planning Group Inc. 2010 January 15

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Regina Public Library – Central Branch Interim

Existing Facility Analysis (P3A Architecture) ………………..A1

Appendix B: Layout Options ……………………………………………..B1

RPL P3 Canada application available

In June 2011 the RPL applied to the P3 Canada (Public Private Partnership) fund for the large redevelopment of Central Library Building.  The application form has finally been made publicly available on the RPL website.  http://www.reginalibrary.ca/cld/?q=node/23 and is available on the FRPL website. Regina Public Library – Application Form with Supplementary Notes – Round 3

The RPL has since withdrawn this application from the  P3 Canada fund process, because the Masonic Temple property was not available. But it is still very useful to read it for the plans that were there, since aspects may be used in the next design for Central Library.

Is it possible that they might reapply in the future?

Central Library Building Assessment – please review

It’s very important to take a close look at what is being said about the Central Library building! The RPL is planning consultations about new designs in March and people should be well-informed and prepared for these consultations.  The RPL Board continues to say that the building is old and needs to be replaced. Please forward thoughts or comments you have to FRPL.

The Building Assessment about the condition of Central Library building
that FRPL has been requesting for a while has finally been made available on the RPL website http://www.reginalibrary.ca/cld/?q=node/22 and is also available here. Building%20Assessment%20Summary%20-%20201206

This document has some critical statements about the condition of the building and the potential for adaptive re-use.

“This report was originally prepared in 2009 and has been updated to
reflect the master Program prepared by Resource Planning Group. The
report consists of a facility analysis by P3A as Architects, JC Kenyon
Engineering- Structural, MacPherson Engineering- Mechanical, Ritenburg
and Associates- Electrical, Resource Planning Group- Library Programming
and Functionality. The report reflects the requirements of the Regina
Public Library from a technical and functional perspective and reviews
issues related to building re-use.”