HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-07-09-PBC-HDC-LBC-min.pdf ;Permanent Building/Historic District Commission/Library Buildlnq
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 varances 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 oroiect elimination of the tower in the northeast corner or 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 adiacent 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 netadditions 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. The 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 regulations of the HDC and the fair application of
these regulations' to all parties who appear before the HDC
For 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 berg
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
Ramp 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 —
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.
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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
HDC, as would the restoration of the original roof
Roofing for the addition The architects have been proposing stana,ng 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 sningle color on the onginal roof
Masonry base The arcnitects had proposed that the masonry base of the original building be
ecnoea in the new addition All committees nave been reviewing an appropriate solution. baldnc,,ic;
cost ano 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
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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. Ian 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
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