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Our Overdue Central Library

By Wells Dunbar, 2:24PM, Thu. Sep. 29, 2011

In this week’s edition of the Chron, we got into the recent presentation of plans for a new Central Library. We’ve got more pictures, tidbits, and questions after the jump.

Image courtesy of Lake|Flato/Shepley Bullfinch

As we mentioned, the impetus for the design from Shepley Bulfinch and Lake|Flato largely concerned “future-proofing” the library, making sure it’s adaptable to emerging technology – online applications, e-book lending and the like – and also a daylit paragon of green building.


Image courtesy of Lake|Flato/Shepley Bullfinch

However, local transit advocates have raised more concrete objections to the placement of the site. While the city and it’s designers tout three accessibility points into the building – at Cesar Chavez, off the Lance Armstrong Bikeway, and from a Shoal Creek trail – some familiar transit faces are raising objections to the building’s placement and position:

With the preliminary design returning to council for further approval Oct. 20, it’s seemingly full speed ahead on the site as it currently sits. Here’s hoping when it returns to the dais, someone – cough, cough – will give a further vetting to site connectivity.


Image courtesy of Lake|Flato/Shepley Bullfinch
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