The Peoria Public Library’s architect for the new north branch has released an artist’s rendering of the site (see picture to right). The Journal Star reports that the design of the new library is “a collaborative effort between PSA Dewberry, the Farnsworth Group and Burnidge Cassel Associates”:
“You’re going to have something that this city can really be proud of,” said Rick McCarthy, principal architect of PSA Dewberry of Elgin. “These designs really make a statement about libraries.”
So I’ve been looking at the picture, trying to figure out what statement this makes about libraries. Frankly, if looks like a slightly-modified 1950s modernist-style building. If you didn’t know what it was, you might think it’s an office building or school. The round reading room is a miniature version of the planetarium being planned for the downtown museum. I guess what I’m saying is that it’s not an architecturally-significant building. It’s neither imaginative nor inspiring, nor does it evoke a sense of permanence.
Hence, it will blend perfectly in the fifth district.
Yuck! What a garbage design – looks like some of the crap built in the 50’s or 60’s. If this junk is accepted then I say vote the bad taste rascals out.
Looks like a dentists office.
“a collaborative effort between PSA Dewberry, the Farnsworth Group and Burnidge Cassel Associates”
That explains it. Design by committee. Isn’t that the problem that the Big 3 automakers had during the 1980’s?
I agree. Very undistinguished. Should have hired Les Kenyon’s firm, Kenyon & Associates, which designs with historical precedents in mind.
What do you think of the Peoria Heights Library, which is fairly new? It’s blah but convenient to use.
The first thing I thought of when I saw it was, “Lovely, it has a silo like the museum design.” What is it with architects thinking Peorians love silos? Why do Peorians agree to pay for buildings that include silos?
Given the opportunity, what historical precedents in that part of town would Les Kenyon base the design on?
kohlrabi — They could have made the reading room look like a tepee…. 😛
Getting back to the architects’ statement that “these designs really make a statement about libraries,” I think the only statement this architecture makes is that we don’t really value libraries so much.
If it was adobe it would look like a building in New Mexico!
Two words…
Ug and ly.
of course you all hate it, duh- thats what you all do best.
O.K., so the outside looks like s**t. Maybe the inside will make up for it. (hope…hope)
“uninspiring”? Why not just say it, UGLY!
peoriafan: and your opinion on the proposed design is _____________
To me it looks exactly like the Lakeview library with the turret added on the back.
How much did the city pay THREE architectural firms to come up with this?
Uninspiring and disappointing. What a letdown. How about something resembling the McClure Branch but on a larger scale?
Can someone please link to a photo of a library that you might feel meets the “wow” factor y’all are obviously looking for, cause I just don’t see the problem with this one.
Here’s a nice one: http://www.spartalibrary.org/SPF_0043.jpg
Or this: http://www.onawa.lib.ia.us/images/oldlib/image_preview
Or perhaps a much larger one like this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/MainLibrary_Urbana_Illinois_4582.jpg
Those are all like a hundred years old! Can you find a newer one that looks like what you have in mind?
You can still build those.
OK and what would be the purpose of building a new building to look old?
Maybe it’s the same principle behind why kids buy brand new jeans that are faded and have holes in them. What that principle is…I don’t know.
Diane,
Good question! Why not ask Keller Williams people who built that “turn of the century red brick abandoned school house building” out there on Allen Road! I wonder if Les Kenyon designed that “beauty”! Maybe D150 can pedal Kingman and Tyng to that company. Sorry – I know you can’t knock a competitor, but that building on Allen was an instant eyesore IMO.
Janel – My Mom used to say that… why would you want to buy brand new jeans that look old!!??? OMG could we be starting to sound like our mothers? Lol!
Yes, Diane, I’m afraid it’s true. I’ve not only turned into my mother mentally, but physically as well. A few weeks ago I was in my car (alone), glanced in the rearview mirror, and thought, “What is my mom doing in the backseat?”
Thinking back, didn’t some of you want the library to consider existing buildings along Pioneer Parkway to keep the costs down?
I think the library made a huge mistake in not doing exactly that. For example, the former ShopKo (spelling?) building could be part library and part retail – people go to the retail stores and notice that “What? There’s a cool library here, too? Let’s go check it out.”
Because of where it is located — a corn field, it seems a contemporary design is in order, but this one misses the mark. As someone else posted, it looks like a 60’s dentist’s office. All that is missing is the bright colored mosaic tiles on the front of the building. I was thinking it would be set back further from the street with much more landscaping, a few benches placed under trees, etc. I guess I was envisioning more of the neutral colors and prairie grass landscaping of Grand Prairie Mall.
New $107,000,000 San Diego main library (in planning stages for years, no where near construction, will probably be scaled down), includes coffee house and now there is talk of including a high school inside it.
http://www.library.ca.gov/lba2000/images/funded/San%20Diego%20Main%20Perspective%20Best.jpg
another view:
http://sdcitybeat.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/scb-san-diego-libary.jpg
and another:
http://malford.ci.austin.tx.us/library/images/sandiego.jpg
Main library at UCSD (University of CA at San Diego)
http://historyofeconomics.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/ucsd_library.jpg
or
http://san-diego-colleges-and-universities.visit-san-diego.com/uc-san-diego-library.jpg
or this one
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3408/3328270086_3afb293e29.jpg
and if you think Peoria’s new design is bad, here is one for Rockford, IL:
http://www.dljenkinsarchitects.com/images/Rockford%20Library.jpg
the main Des Moines library:
http://www.weitz.com/userdocs/portfolioProject/lg_DMPL-roof.jpg
evansville, IN:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2124/2070912869_b78b9bc31b.jpg
or better yet, go to google/images and type in (name of city) library and you get lots of stuff.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is Peoria’s attitude toward history and architecture in miniature. Old is bad. If it looks old, it’s bad. If it actually is old, it should be torn down. New is good! All must be new. Must look new. Must be new. Once it gets old, get rid of it. And what is old? Anything 20 years old or older. If it’s 50 years old, it’s ancient–ANCIENT I SAY!
What’s wrong with Greek revival style architecture? IT’S OLD!
What’s wrong with Art Deco? IT’S OLD!
What’s wrong with Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture? HE’S DEAD! AND OLD!
I can’t believe that in our nation’s capital, they actually built buildings that were inspired by the classical architecture of ancient Greece and Rome. What was WRONG with those people? Why did they make their civic buildings and memorials to great men look so OLD? Why not a brutalist, concrete White House?
I think a more apt question would be, why must our civic buildings be indistinguishable from dentists’ offices and farm bureaus?
What’s old about building along a classic design? It won’t be the limestone or the bricks or the mortar. Comparing a classic designed library to buying a new ‘pre worn’ pair of jeans is not an accurate comparison. A pre worn pair if jeans is deliberately ‘aged’ and abused in its materials. A classic design need not be worn aged or abused. The only thing ‘old’ about it, is that buildings of similar design we built decades ago using materials and techniques that would last for decades or even centuries giving the willingness to maintain them (which in the case of some school buildings we seem to not have).
Why do you wear jeans in the first place at all? Because jeans are a classic look that have been around for decades. Gasp… to suggest you might be out of fashion… or… OLD.
Why silo architectural desings in Peoria? Perhaps to represent the style of managment in Peoria’s bureaucracies — Silo Management!
The Navy has sent millions in reconstruction at the Chicago base —- design used — classic style brick buildings — brick and limestone. Why? I was told to look like Harvard and Yale — dignity and class. Time enduring style vs. the 1950’s blah being replaced. To inspire excellence.
I like the classic styles Mahkno presented. And for an interesting design, a la Kansas City Library
Exterior Shot
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://aisforarchitecture.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/418008212_d0e12b86c9.jpg&imgrefurl=http://aisforarchitecture.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/scusi-dove-la-biblioteca/&usg=__yBoPluHeyCVnSq1beaw5Vs0WIwI=&h=334&w=500&sz=107&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=Wy4XkjnDkm_mEM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkansas%2Bcity%2Blibrary%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den
Interior shot ….
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1155/1341411531_57bfd5a0b9_o.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.kansascitydailyphoto.com/2007/08/beautiful-scholarly.html&usg=__JJiSOl1To8vXfjyr5npgCpJwcDw=&h=1060&w=804&sz=828&hl=en&start=9&tbnid=KQMXsN0RX7C9EM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkansas%2Bcity%2Blibrary%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den
Built to look old? The Alwans had the right ideas when they built their new store on War Drive. It reasonably fits in with the the look of the neighborhood. Too bad most of the rest of the “powers that supposedly are” in Peoria don’t have the same insight as the Alwans.
What is the problem with any of those pics that Mahkno posted? Those are buildings that look classsic and cool now and will look that way in 50 years.
Maybe they should do an exact copy of the riverfront museumatorium, so that in 15 years people can pull up and say “What the hell were they thinking when they designed this?”
That Sparta library looks 100 times cooler than the new library design.
And what’s the problem with the Keller Williams building? Does it look out of place on Allen Road? It sure does. Because it doesn’t look like all the generic buildings surrounding it. Maybe they should have combined a car dealer/gas station design.
karrie: Those people in Kansas City have Art on the sidewalks and in the middle of yards… They probably don’t have a bunch of Peoria Country Club members … er I mean Kansas City Country Club members getting rich with every civic project proposed.
CJ, with that sarcasm-laden rejoinder at the end of your post, it appears you’ve joined blogger Billy in taking swipes at the fifth district. Coupled with your crime post that essentially does the same thing, you’re on the cusp of alienating a sizeable chunk of your blogosphere. And what does it accomplish? I live 2 blocks from Junction City in what I consider an urban neighborhood. It puts me (barely) in the fifth district. And I’m supposed to assume the mantle of a ticky-tacky surburbanite because CJ and Billy want to feel smug about their residency south of War Drive?
I would suggest you both choose your battles with a tad more discretion.
Steve J … there is nothing within two miles of Junction City that is “URBAN”. You are in SUBURBIA, brother.
Go Steve J.
I would disagree kcdad. I think the Junction City area has achieved just what you all have been asking bloggin about for years. A walkable neighborhood with a blend of residential and retail.
“A walkable neighborhood with a blend of residential and retail.” That’s your definition of “urban”?
“An urban area is an area with an increased density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it”
“densely populated area;”
“The “urban” category includes those areas classified as being urbanized (having a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile and a total population of at least 50,000)” NOTE: Peoria Heights with a pop density of 2500 per sq mile and total population of 6700 is defined as a suburb of Peoria.
I lean towards a more population density oriented definition. Where property values are so high that multi family dwellings predominate or the number of individual residences within a certain area increase to the point where you can practically stand between two buildings and touch both of them.
Junction City is not a walking neighborhood… look at the huge parking lot!
I grew up in that neighborhood… it is very middle class white suburbia.
kcdad: And so — that is why we keep getting the silo design?
Steve J: Why be so thin-skinned? Why do you choose to be alienated? CJ and Billy are making valid points as well as yourself. The challenge is that neighbors in the older districts have been sharing these concerns for years and many (not all) have repeatedly turned a deaf ear and eye to the plight of the older neighborhoods.
If each of us would decide that we are truly ALL IN THIS TOGETHER — we would be able to get things done effectively, successfully and make Peoria better. Unfortunately, someone decides to take offense rather than trying to understand what really needs to be done rather the continued cycle of insanity. The challenge is that there is no vision/mission statement which has been developed from the heart of our community, as in many stakeholders having voice, not just those with political clout, money, power and/or influence. Until we decide to tackle that gorilla in the room, just expect more of the same — silo management and poor outcome.
P.S. I think that Junction City is very attractive in its re-creation.
I miss the Drug Store and it’s soda fountain.
kcdad – yep, that is my definition of urban or at least the one that I would be interested in living in. What area of Peoria fits your definition? No area in Peoria is that densely populated.
“Junction City is not a walking neighborhood… look at the huge parking lot!”
kcdad, perhaps you should work on your fitness level instead of blogging so much. My family lives at the far end of Mt. Hawley and we routinely walk or ride bikes to Junction City and back and we run the route between Edgewild and the Heights water tower. I guess we have different definitions of a walking neighborhood too.
West Peoria is that way, most of the area around Lincoln and Western is that way, Most of the older neighborhoods on the bluffs and below…. and of course… the downtown area.
If I could afford knee surgery on my teaching salary maybe I would. Yes… we have probably have different definitions of lots of things. (Can you tell me someplace you can’t ride your bike to in Peoria County. I used to regularly ride out to Jubilee State Park)
kcdad,
If you’re using a “population density oriented defintion,” as you noted, what exactly does your point about the area near around Junction City being “white middle class” have to do with anything? Are you suggesting that a predominately white middle class area cannot by definition be urban? Under your stated definition (population density), I don’t see how racial and socioeconomic factors fit in. I lived in neighborhoods in Chicago for 15 years where you could in fact stand between most residential buildings and touch both(not just “practically” as you said), yet the population was dominated by white middle and upper middle class residents.
I’m not sure I understand your point about Peoria Heights being defined as a suburb as it relates to this discussion of urban areas and population density. Isn’t West Peoria, one of your examples of an urban area, a suburb of Peoria as well? By the way, West Peoria has a population density of about 3,700 per square mile. Oak Park, Illinois has a population density of nearly 11,000 per square mile, yet is a suburb of Chicago. Does the suburban definition of Oak Park mean that it is not an urban area, at least in your view? Frankly, downtown Oak Park and most of its neighborhoods feel far more urban to me on a given day than downtown Peoria and its older neighborhoods (multi-family dwellings, lots of people walking on the streets, etc).
Don’t get defensive, I was just describing the neighborhood… have you ever been to West Peoria? You can stand in the driveway (if there is one) and reach both houses on either side… or nearly. Go to Mt Hawley, Edgewild, Northmoor Hills, Kellar Heights, or any of those areas and you will lucky to be able to throw a rock to the neighbor’s house. (Alright, that is a rather blatant exaggeration) But I think you will agree the property boundaries are much further.
Because West Peoria is a city, it has many things going on that draws residents together. For instance, last Saturday there was the annual Jamboree held at Franciscan Park–and soon the Fourth of July Parade, which will bring all of us out on the streets. West Peoria truly has the feel of a small town–Haddad’s is the place we regularly run into friends from West Peoria, Peoria, and even surrounding areas. I just welcomed a new neighbor–a former student who is now a District 150 school administrator. We have an active Neighborhood Watch group that meets once a month–when we keep track of crime in our area by meeting with the policeman for our area who gives us tips on what is happening and what to look out for, etc.
kcdad,
I’m not sure why you think I was being defensive – I was just pointing out what I perceived as inconsistencies in your post. Yes, I have been to West Peoria many times – my spouse lived there for awhile and we have friends who live there that we visit regularly. I brought up West Peoria and Oak Park simply as examples of why I didn’t think the fact that Peoria Heights is identified as a suburb has any relevance to your point about population density – as both West Peoria and even Oak Park are suburbs yet have even higher population density than PH. I was actually AGREEING that West Peoria is RELATIVELY high density to areas of Peoria, yet is technically a suburb (as much as Peoria Heights is). I was simply trying to establish that the technical label of “suburb” is often used for areas that actually are more urban than some areas of the larger city itself (i.e. certain neighborhoods in parts of Peoria itself).
While I agree that the the houses in West Peoria are relatively closer together than the homes in the neighborhoods you mentioned (note that I never disagreed with you about that), I don’t think the difference is as marked as you make it out to be (in the case of Northmoor Hills, for example). Perhaps my view is tainted by my experience of living in Chicago where there is a much larger concentration of what I think of as high density neighborhoods
I’m still left wondering how you’re “white, middle class” criteria fits into your “population density definition” of “urban.”
kcdad – not fair to ask peoriafan for an idea, he never had an original thought in his life. He just parrots what the establishment tells him.
I expect the lightly used Linccoln Library will have a very “grave” look. But then maybe the architects will go for the semi-occupied Bank Plus “mosque” look.
Steve J — Point taken. How about if I say “North Peoria” instead of “fifth district”?
I’ll be surprised if you’re still in the fifth district after the next census/redistricting.
I wish you folks could just agree to disagree,I wish five of you could meet on a Saturday morning and discuss these issues you talk about and make some suggestions instead of a steady stream of criticism; I wish Diane would go sell some real estate; I wish kcdad would put out some of my burning crosses and then go volunteer at Carver Center like I do(not the Civic Center), and lastly I wish you all would stop nit-picking and get a lot smarter.