urbanSTL

Generally, I like the design.



Still, the fact that they might seal the main entrance alarms me.

I must have missed something. I can't believe they would move the main entrance from Olive. Did the library people say that somewhere, or is it just street talk?

No, the article does not explicity say that the library will change the entrance. It just seems implied from the fact that they will build this glass atrium with a welcome desk in the rear. Maybe they will keep them both open, but it appears that they would want the "new" entrance to be the de facto primary entrance.

If memory serves, everyone enters below the main stairs. The formal grand entrance requires walking up a long set of steps. I assume this formal entrance would still be available to anyone with the stamina to use it. However, entering under the steps into a basement like environment is probably the way most people have been entering for decades. And then taking stairs or elevators up to the main foyer once inside the building. The new addition may provide a better entrance for the majority of people that won't or cannot make the ceremonial climb up the stairs.

steve wrote:No, the article does not explicity say that the library will change the entrance. It just seems implied from the fact that they will build this glass atrium with a welcome desk in the rear. Maybe they will keep them both open, but it appears that they would want the "new" entrance to be the de facto primary entrance.

I wouldn't jump to conclusions. In an earlier post, I compared the contemporary addition to the Missouri History Museum to this expansion, and I believe they use both entrances. Let's just hope both entrances are utilized.



Missouri History Museum (traditional north facade)

http://www.barynya.com/barynya/images/f ... ya_NYC.jpg



Missouri History Museum (contemporary south facade)

http://www.johnnyjet.com/images/PicForN ... Museum.JPG

urbanstlouis wrote:

steve wrote:No, the article does not explicity say that the library will change the entrance. It just seems implied from the fact that they will build this glass atrium with a welcome desk in the rear. Maybe they will keep them both open, but it appears that they would want the "new" entrance to be the de facto primary entrance.

I wouldn't jump to conclusions. In an earlier post, I compared the contemporary addition to the Missouri History Museum to this expansion, and I believe they use both entrances. Let's just hope both entrances are utilized.



Missouri History Museum (traditional north facade)

http://www.barynya.com/barynya/images/f ... ya_NYC.jpg



Missouri History Museum (contemporary south facade)

http://www.johnnyjet.com/images/PicForN ... Museum.JPG

^ now that's a beautiful building!

urbanstlouis wrote:

steve wrote:No, the article does not explicity say that the library will change the entrance. It just seems implied from the fact that they will build this glass atrium with a welcome desk in the rear. Maybe they will keep them both open, but it appears that they would want the "new" entrance to be the de facto primary entrance.

I wouldn't jump to conclusions. In an earlier post, I compared the contemporary addition to the Missouri History Museum to this expansion, and I believe they use both entrances. Let's just hope both entrances are utilized.

I just heard back from Dan Alamia of the St. Louis Public Library-Central Library, and he confirmed for me that the traditional south entrance will remain open. See... nothing to worry about.

Glad I was proved wrong (again).

thanks for clarifying that, urbanstl. very good news indeed.

"They" keep quoting metrics of 250,000 annual users. I'm curious how this is measured. I don't remember seeing any counting mechanism when you walk in. Everytime I'm there, its packed, and I'm thinking they may be under-estimating usage. On the other hand, it could be overstated. In any case, if you're going to try and raise 50 million, you better be able to back up stats on usage, both past, present, and future.

Awesome rendering, this is indeed a good project and could give a big boost to the library.

Citylover wrote:I like!

Ditto!

Wow! The bigger renderings are fantastic. I can't wait for this to be completed.

Nice. Hopefully the plans include narrowing down ridiculously wide Locust along that stretch.

Is there a historical staircase in the second photo that will be altered for a glass and metal one?



Is the ceiling in the second photo replacing a historical tin ceiling or anything of value like murals in order to replace with a bland white one?



Love the glass and add-on.

I could be wrong, but I don't think the library was built with "tin ceilings". I would guess fancy plaster work, marble trim, etc.



I love the renderings!

What is the status of this project? With all the recent talk of Lucas Park, this could be an important component.

Does anyone know who the architect is on this project? It reminds me very much of the History Museum in Forest Park in that the additions were done in a way that preserved t he past but made way for the future.



Enclosing the front facade of the library is a great idea and I'd think Cass Gilbert would be proud to know his architecture will remain intact.

They also need to do something about keeping the bums out of the Library. I went in there a few months ago, and (I'm not exagerating) you could smell this one bum from 30 feet away. How can that be allowed? Why shouldn't taxpaying citizens be subjected to this? There is no way he could have walked through the front door and no one have noticed.

Interestingly, on my last couple of visits to the Central Library, there seemed to be far fewer homeless people loitering inside the building than was the case earlier in the year - I don't know if this is the result of a recent policy change by the library administration or simply due to the nice weather outside.

If I were there and there were offensive loiterers, I'd complain. What's stopping you?

How about offensive librarians? The last two times I have been in the history and geneaology section one of the librarians (the same one both times) has been on the phone squawking at full volume to one of her friends; indefinately. This is of course in addition to the other patrons that are talking on their cellphones at full volume as well.