Citizens for Sunnyvale Parks & Green Spaces: "Library of the Future" 144K SF Buildings

By Michael Goldman with Deborah Marks, co-founders of Citizens for Sunnyvale Parks and Green Spaces

Deborah Marks is also leader of Sunnyvale Urban Forests Advocates
http://www.sunnyvaleurbanforestadvocates.org/

The 2007 Library "Needs Assessment" concluded Sunnyvale needed a library of 143,500 square feet and that it would cost $108M to build such a library and 15% more to achieve LEED Platinum for a total of $124M. The $108M bond issue was for a 116,000 SF library which could be expandable to 143,500 SF. They could have scrapped the LEED Platinum part and just built the 143,500 SF library since there was no mention of size or LEED requirements in the bond issue on the ballot.

C.f. "Council directed the Core Team to explore numerous aspects of the recommended Facility Strategy, including: Provision of a building between 133,500 and 143,500 square feet in the new facility" from page 5 of:
http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/Portals/0/Sunnyvale/LIB/doc/6_r_sunnyvale_lof_strategy_070628.pdf

Or, in the PDF document at the link above, search (ctrl-F) for "143". There are 10 references to 143,500 SF.

I searched on the internet for images of 143,500 square foot libraries and other buildings. Here are some I found that weren't obscured by trees or buildings. Links to articles verify that they are 143,500 sq. ft. (or close). If they look too big for Sunnyvale's Civic Center that is because they are. They are huge! They are also much, much, less expensive than the $108M-$124M Anderson Brule Architect (ABA) recommended in 2007. I have also looked at other similar-sized buildings and libraries here:
http://cspgs.blogspot.com/2015/09/say-how-big-is-that-library.html

1. American Alliance One building in Raleigh, North Carolina is 145,000 square feet. The project was completed in 2014 for $38M which includes a 523 car parking deck (visible in upper right of first picture). The office building is 5 stories. The top is 30,000 square feet while the lower floors lose some floor space to stairs, lobby space, etc.

American Alliance One Building - Click to Enlarge

Links for Alliance One Building:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article10290785.html

http://www.craigdavisproperties.com/portfolio-item/alliance-center-at-centennial-campus/

2. Bryn Mawr Medical Pavilion. Philadelphia, PA LEED Gold; Total cost = $32M; 147,000 sq ft., built in 2011.

Bryn Mawr Medical Pavilion - Front - Click to Enlarge

Bryn Mawr Medical Pavilion - Back - Click to Enlarge

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2011/06/06/new-medical-offices-rising-on-bryn.html

3. Grand Valley State University: Allendale, Michigan. Mary Idema Pew Library. Four floors, 150,000 Square Feet so 4.5% larger than 143,500. LEED Platinum; Total cost = $65M. Built in 2013. This is stunning - do yourself a favor and click on the photos to enlarge the photos and fully appreciate it. It fits well in a university. On Sunnyvale's Civic Center it would be overwhelming. (Some of the photos are "squeezed" by the web software so click on the photo to get a realistic view.)

GVSU Pew Library - Click to Enlarge

GVSU Pew Library ("squeezed" by web) - Click to Enlarge to proper proportions

Study "cubby holes" in wall

Lobby - Click to enlarge

Green Roof for outdoor study - Click to enlarge

Automated retrieval

Aerial View Shows Green Roof on upper left

"The facility contains complex HVAC systems that have been optimized for energy efficiency including underfloor air distribution, demand controlled ventilation, radiant floors, enthalpy recovery wheels, a flat plate air-to-air heat recovery unit, wrap-around heat pipes, condensate heat recovery, and high-efficiency mechanical equipment."

Lots more great photos here:
http://www.archdaily.com/534586/gvsu-pew-library-stantec/53e1825fc07a80187400026c-gvsu-pew-library-stantec-image

http://gvsu.edu/library/mary-idema-pew-library-21.htm

4. Griffin Hall, Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY. 134,000 square feet so only 94% of the planned 143,500 Library of the Future but about the size of the minimum asked for by the City Council in 2007.