The Observation Deck

Had a chance to walk through the new addition to the Lakewood Public Library.

DAMN!

That A.M. Stern guy really knows his business!

Now I cannot wait to see it finished, and all fixed up for the Library's Grand Gala Party.

You cannot helped but be moved, by the scale of the rooms.

This will be the First Wonder of Lakewood.

I want to thank everyone that has helped in anyway bring this project along. The Board, The Friends, the volunteers, this was something else.

200 photos, going on line at some point, here is a peak.


Scott Kermode, Jeff Endress, Ken Warren and Suzanne Metelko gaze into the libraries great reading room.


Jeff Endress and Scott Kermode go over the plans.


Jeff Endress looking at the future of the library, which he helped to create.


Down the stairs as the sneak peak is over...


OK, one quick peak at the amazing work of A.M. Stern. Suzanne Metelko, Scott Kermode, Jeff Endress and Ken Warren take in the grandeur at the center of the library. All I could say is it is amazing. The first wonder of Lakewood!

This is one Lakewood will be proud of for decades or longer.

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not surprised ... Robert A.M. Stern is a hell of an architect, and recognizes civic buildings as ways to convey the grandeur and importance of a place like a library or a city hall.

I'm sure the PD's architecture 'critic' (and I use that term lightly) won't like it at all, preferring instead that Lakewood go with some unknown European architectural firm that designs something that's all glass and swoopy, and doesn't have room for actual books.

But then again, who cares what that idiot thinks? An institution like a library should convey stabilty, respect, with foundations that don't go into the ground, but reach into the very bedrock of civilization, because a library is truly a fountain of knowledge for the public to drink from.

And not an exercise in bad architecture. Stern gets it, and his views on modern classicism really combine the best of the old and the new.

Lakewood's got something to be proud of!

Is the new library going to have a lot more computers? I assume it will have wifi everywhere? I am glad it is not built like an unfinished building like the federal building in downtown Cleveland.

Doug

DougHuntingdon wrote:Is the new library going to have a lot more computers? I assume it will have wifi everywhere? I am glad it is not built like an unfinished building like the federal building in downtown Cleveland.

Doug

Doug

More computers.

For what it is worth I have been in more than one meeting where WiFi was discussed and John Guscott and Ken Warren have been ready to pull the trigger for the entire city for the last three years.

They have the plan.

c. dawson wrote:not surprised ... Robert A.M. Stern is a hell of an architect, and recognizes civic buildings as ways to convey the grandeur and importance of a place like a library or a city hall.

Now if we could only have him design a new city hall to replace the monstrosity we have today.

hey, the man's good, but I think even Michaelangelo and Frank Lloyd Wright would throw up their hands over the Lakewood City Hall complex.

Mr. Huntington:

The Technology Center at Main Library will roughly double in size and capacity upon completion of the project in Winter 2008.

There will be 80 personal computers for Internet - up from the current 40.

There will, of course, be WI-FI in the new building.

In addition, I want to point out that 30 personal computers will be installed at Madison Branch in preparation for Phase Two of the Project, which begins in June, 2007. At this time that the Technology Center at Main Library will be closed for renovation and expansion.

The 30 personal computers will remain at Madison Branch for the total enhancement of access and services.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library