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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-07-09-PBC-HDC-LBC-min.pdf Permanent Building/Historic District Commission/Library Building Committee Friday, July 9, 1999 Cary Memorial Library — Oval Room Attending: Ian Adamson, Lynn Hopkins - Historic District Commission; Peter Kelley, Walter Pierce, Mary Lou Touart - Permanent Building Committee; Carol Mahoney, Library Director; Stephen Hale, Architect. Background Carol Mahoney updated the two representatives of the Historic District Commission (HDC) on the recent history of the library project: + Feb. 12. 1998: Board of Appeals hearing. Six variances requested, six variances granted. + April 2, 1998: HDC hearing. Inconclusive, objections voices; hearing continued. + April 1998: Lawsuit brought by abutter, Douglass against ZBA, Selectmen, and Board of Library Trustees. + June 11, 1998: Meeting with HDC members Bechtel and DiNapoli to explore the concerns raised at the April HDC hearing. + Fall 1998: Meeting's held between town counsel and Douglasses seeking an out of court resolution. + April 1999: Agreement signed by the Douglasses and the town stipulating the following: Revision of the library project: elimination of the tower in the northeast corner of the building. This includes the relocation of the electrical vault located under the tower. The vault is the main power source for the library. Landscaping of the grounds adjacent to the Douglass property: a mutually acceptable plan for landscaping the grounds of the library adjacent to the Douglasses property will be developed. Exterior facade of the building: the library in preparing for HDC presentations, is to make reasonable efforts that the exterior of the neti!.,additions be harmonious with the Mass. Avenue facade and the glare from Library lighting facing the East side of the building be minimized to the extent feasible. Carol informed the members of the HDC that a meeting schedule would be coordinated with the Permanent Building Committee (PBC). The PBC is the town's representative in managing design and construction of all Town building projects. The PBC will be meeting in July to discuss the resumption of the architect's contract and resolve any outstanding contractual issues. Walter Pierce then reviewed the minutes of the meeting held June 11, 1998 with HDC members Rick Bechtel (has since left the HDC) and Mark DiNapoli. July 9, 1999 Discussion Windows: Library has been proposing aluminum-clad windows for the new addition as well as for replacement windows in the original building where the profile of the existing wood windows would be duplicated._Peter Kelley brought up the role of the PBC in reviewing the cost of items in a project and the long-term maintenance issues for the Town. Ian stressed that the HDC must stay true to the egulatHDCof the HDC and the fair application of these regulations' to all parties who appear betheFor the original building, two options were discussed: a) new wood-framed windows with insulating glass; b) keeping and refurbishing the original wood windows, the severe disadvantage here being the lack of insulating glass and inadequate weather-stripping, both affecting operational costs. There was discussion on the shapes and proportions of the windows in the addition and how they might relate to existing window shapes. Ram : there was a question of revisiting the design of the ramp adjacent to the front entrance that runs along Clarke Street. There are many issues that impact the placement of the ramp in the front of the building. Cary's high usage (120 people and hour) also brings about different considerations. Comments/discussion about the ramp: 1. the possibility of moving the ramp or placing a lift in the front vestibule area of the front entrance. (Given the high use of both entrances to the library a lift would-not 'be feasible -m it could not handle the traffic, would need staff intervention. 2. the ramp as presently designed is highly noticeable. Perhaps the design could incorporate features of the building like the stone foundation. This would break up the continuous run of the ramp. Stone piers with railings interspersed. 3. landscaping: show the landscaping in the drawings. Landscaping could help to take away the ramp from being a building element and turn it into a landscaping element. This could help to quiet down the ramp. 4. A question was raised as to whether or not there was a functional relationship between the restoration of the front entrance and the ramp. There is no relationship 'between the restoration and the ramp. Roof Stephen Hale reported that architect Willard Brown's original drawing showed a red tile or slate roof, although the earliest photographs seem to indicate that Brown's original intent for the roof may not have been carried out. There was strong support fog a roofing color, which would provide visual continuity from old-to-new roofs. Asphalt shingles with texture to them would be acceptable to the HOC, as would the restoration of the original roof. Roofing for the addition: The architects have been proposing standing seam stainless steel roof surfacing at a similar pitch to that of the original roofs. There seemed to be support for this concept with its weathered grey tying into an asphalt shingle color on the original roof. Masonry base: The architects had proposed that the masonry base of the original building be echoed in the new addition. All committees have been reviewing an appropriate solution, balancing cost and appearance ® cast stone, precast panels, etc. It was discussed that natural stone units in a thin ashlar would be most pleasing and the Architects should evaluate this preferred alternative. 2 July 9, 1999 Stucco: The Architects propose that the stucco banding that occurs on the original building above a masonry base be echoed in the addition, in a closely matched grey color. The use of Dryvit is no longer being considered. Daylightinq — roof monitors: the architects bring considerable experience in the integration of daylighting with artificial lighting of buildings, an important factor with the Cary Library and it is the reason why the roof monitors were added to the design. The monitors on the roof level have been modified and the height of the building reduced. Also the number of reading bays on the East side of the building has been reduced from three to two. Fenestration/treatment: lan Adamson expressed concern about the fenestration treatment, particularly at the mezzanine level. The architects have been instructed to treat this third level of windows more like a continuous "slot" dormer between two roof planes rather than as punched window openings, expressing this level more as an "attic" than as a third floor, thus to assist in scaling the building. Lynne Hopkins and Ian Adamson suggested further study and simplification of the South facade and of the roof treatment above the South entrance. Walter Pierce brought up the question of how contemporary additions to historic buildings should be handled. There seemed to be general agreement that the addition to the Library should be "of its time", but sympathetic in its forms and choice of materials to the original building. Meeting adjourned at 10:00am. 3