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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-1991-04-15-1991q 2, 1 CITY COUNCIL April 15, 1991 A SPECIAL MEETING of the City Council was held on Monday, April 15, 1991, at 8:24 P.M. in the Council Chamber pursuant to a vote of the City Council on March 25, 1991. ROLL CALL - PRESENT: A quorum being present. -• ABSENT: Alderman Wold TARDY: Alderman Paden Alderman Nelson Alderman Wollin Alderman Collens Alderman Rainey Alderman Lanyon Alderman Feldman Alderman Warshaw Alderman Juliar Alderman Drummer Alderman Davis Alderman Brady Alderman Esch Alderman Korshak Alderman Morton Alderman Washington PRESIDING: Mayor Joan W. Barr Mayor Barr said that tonight is a night of celebration for Evanston with the announcement of the winners of the Architectural Design Competition for the new main library building. It's a major step toward an important civic goal. She pointed out that many Evanstonians have been involved in the work and planning that have brought us to this moment. She thanked everyone for coming and welcomed citizens, elected representatives and volunteer members of the current and previous library boards. She complimented the library staff for serving city residents and businesses so well, despite increasing space constraints. She said that she thought that everyone would be thrilled with the exciting and distinctive shape the competition winner has given to the city's dreams, while conscientiously adhering to the specific criteria set out by the library program statement. "I think most of us would agree that we in Evanston have a particular sense of who we are and the values we hold. We are a community committed to intellectual pursuit and to equality of opportunity at every level. The library stands at the intersection of those two values, as a facilitator of self realization and growth of every. kind." Mayor Barr pointed out that the need for a larger library became apparent to her as soon as she was elected in 1977. In 1985 the Council formally acknowledged the need for a new library. In 1987, she declared the Year of the Library, and in 1988 appointed a Mayor's Special Committee on the Library to work in concert with the Library Board. "Their efforts have brought us to this very important and exciting stage of the process of building a new library that will be everything that Evanston wants and requires for this key public resource." Mayor Barr concluded her remarks by introducing Alderman Collens, Chair of the Mayor's Special Committee on the Main Library. -2- April 15, 1991 Alderman Collens introduced her fellow committee members, Aldermen Morton, Juliar, Rainey and Feldman. She also pointed out that the late John Rudy had served for two years on the committee. She reported that the committee had carefully reviewed everything many times to make sure that a new library was indeed needed; that it needed to be 100,000 square feet in size, and that a $17 million dollar budget would be required, and discussed whether a competition was the appropriate way to approach the project. The committee surveyed every possible location, considered whether to expand or not, considered how to provide good library service for Evanston citizens while the new library was being built, and thoroughly discussed phased construction. The committee brought careful and thorough analyses to the Council to allow the Council to affirm all the decisions made along the way. Alderman Collens discussed the reservations that the committee had had about the design competition, but explained that they were finally convinced that it was the best way to,get a quality design. The team that made up the jury devoted more expert professional attention to the design problem than the City could ever have hired under another system. Much professional expertise helped to determine which of these solutions was the right one for Evanston. She said that the city had received 378 entries in the competition each of which was thoroughly evaluated by the jurors and the winners bubbled up to the top. She explained that the program documents had been carefully prepared to include the big picture and the little picture and how they set up a strange and wonderful last phase which was "very Evanston." The winner is the winner of the competition, then he has to go through the next phase consisting of interviews with staff, having their credentials checked, and sending the design out for review and cost -analysis before any contract is signed. That way the city can be assured that they have a design, a project and an architect that will work for us. She explained that the design - development phase was extremely important. The architect and the city have one year to complete this phase. _.. Alderman Collens acknowledged the excellent staff support the committee had received from Library Director Don Wright and his staff, from former Planning Director Richard Carter, who was the principal staff to the committee until his retirement and Jeanne Lindwall, his long-time associate who carried on staff support to the committee after Mr. Carter's retirement. She also thanked the Library Board, over many boards, for its cooperation and commitment to this project. She lauded Library Board President, Mary Anne Cappo's leadership, saying that it was outstanding and that she was a pleasure to work with, with enough energy to keep everyone going. Mary Anne Cappo, Library Board President thanked Alderman Collens for her leadership on the Mayor's Special Committee, thanked the Mayor for declaring the Year of the Library and for appointing the Special Committee. She said that it really rewarding to have to worked with the Special Committee and also Library Director Don Wright and his staff, Charles Anderson and Paul Gottchalk. She thanked those individuals who had served on previous Library Board who had helped bring the Library to this point. She introduced Library Board Vice President Doris Wolin, Secretary Ann Kepler, members Fred Malkinson, David Allen, Cheryl Judice, Pat Heaston and Matthew Brackett. She pointed out that the Library Board and the :Special Committee had worked with the competition advisor and the consultant to write a very precise program document, one which was carefully drawn to ensure -that the city would get the kind of library building that it deserved and needed. She explained that the competition had been announced and advertised in various professional journals. During the period October 1 to November 30, the City received 1,253 requests for the program document at $85 per request. Ms. Cappo reported that the competition had also been cited in Newsweek magazine and had gotten additional attention in the press. Following the November 30 deadline was a question period, where architects could write questions anonymously and the responses sent to all who had requested the program document. The close of the competition was April 1, 1991 and by that date the city had received 378 submissions. The competition was judged in five empty storefronts at Main Street Commons, which were rented to the City at no cost. Ms. Cappo touched on the four principal evaluative criteria that the jury had used to evaluate the designs. They are: 1)exterior image and response to context (a building that will fit into the context and character or its surrounding structures and landscape and become a significant civic symbol, yet draws people in with a sense of welcome.) 2) interior plans and functional effectiveness (the building had to make sense as a library and should be flexible, functional and comfortable, well -lighted and well -ventilated.) 3) it should be able to be built within the project budget. 4) it must be a building that is possible to construct in two phases. 1 1 1 991 4W -3- April 15, 1991 / 1 1 Ms. Cappo announced the names of the jurors: Chair, Richard Whittaker, AIA, Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an Evanston resident; members, Donlyn Lyndon, FAIA, Professor of Architecture at University of California -at Berkeley and a principal in the firm of Lyndon, Buchanan and Associates (replaced William Turnbull, FAIA, William Turnbull Associates, San Francisco, CA); John Morris Dixon, FAIA, Editor, Progressive Architecture, Stamford, CT; Milo Thompson, FAIA, with Bentz, Thompson, Rietow, Inc., Minneapolis, MN; Cynthia Weese, AIA, of Weese, Langley, Weese, Chicago, IL., Don Wright, Library Director, Alderman Collens, Chair of the Mayor's Special Committee on the Library and Mary Anne Cappo, President, Evanston Public Library Board of Directors. Ms. Cappo said it was a privilege to serve on a jury with such distinguished professionals. She said they regretted that Committee Chair Richard Whittaker was unable to be here this evening because he was out of the country. She introduced Cynthia Weese to continue the presentation. Ms. Weese said that they were all privileged to be part of the jury because they all felt that the library as the soul of an American city. She said she felt that peoples' lives had been shaped by them and she was delighted to be part of this process shaping this library. She explained that judging the competition had,been a three-day process. Prior to the judging, there was a reception and tour of the library on the Sunday before it began. The first day jurors spent evaluating each entry by themselves. That day, each juror decided which project should stay or go and which ones should not be considered for another round. The second day the jurors went around as a group and talked about each project which had gotten one vote, expressed their opinions, and went through the criteria and saw how each project related to the criteria. She explained that as the day went on, the jury developed many insights into the schemes. The third day of the competition, all but 16 projects had been eliminated. The jury looked at each project carefully, as individuals and in groups, and then chose the honorable mention projects and the winners. She stressed that all submissions were anonymous, with each given a number. The names of the architects were not revealed until the choices had been made.She said that the jury was very cohesive. The criteria was strongly emphasized and adhered to. She said the jury did rough calculations to figure out the approximate cost for projects as presented and discussed what parameters had to be considered, such as not too much perimeter or too much glass for maintenance purposes. She showed slides illustrating the wide variety; of designs that had been received. She announced that Bruce Lonnman, Donald Durst, Samuel Brook and Jeffrey Connor of Columbus, OH were awarded a special commendation. Then she announced that winners of the $2,500 Honorable Mention Prizes were Terry Dwan of Milan, Italy; Richard Gryziec of San Francisco, CA; Beatrice Stern, Kurt Dillon and Anne Tichich of New York City and Mark Wenztell of Tonka Bay, MN. She showed slides of their designs and commented on points of interest in each design. Ms. Weese announced that the winner of the $5,060 Third Place Prize was Michael E. Blakemore of San Francisco, CA with Donald Sandy, FAIA and Thomas Turkington. Mr. Blakemore is with the firm of Sandy and Babcock: Ms.Weese announced that Harrison Fraker, Dean of the College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, had won 2nd Place. Mayor Barr presented him with the $10,000 cash prize. Mr. Fraker said that there are many reasons to do a competition, even though it is unusual for a Dean to enter a competition. He explained that he had been teaching some excellent students in the fall and felt it was appropriate to explore ideas with them on a real project. He said he was attracted to this site because it is on the spot where the city grid turns. He said that he sought to create a building with a simple and rational interior, made playful by conditions of light and interior circulation. He introduced the students who had worked on the project: Aly Hashmati, Rick Lundeen and Joe Stutz. Ms. Weese commented that the jury had been entranced with the porch included in the design. Ms. Weese then introduced Joseph Powell, of Philadelphia, PA the architect with the winning design and winner of the $20,000 first prize. Mr. Powell said that it was an honor, a shock and surprise to win the competition. He recited a short verse from Baumont and Fletcher regarding books. He explained that that verse had been a starting point for his ideas for this competition. He went on to explain the exterior design and how the interior space was organized. Ms. Weese commented on various portions of the design that had appealed to the jury and congratulated Mr. Powell on winning. Mr. Powell thanked the jury and the Library Board for according him this honor. -4- April 15, 1991 Mayor Barr announced there would be a reception in the ante -room of the chamber. She also announced that there would be a CLOSED SESSION following the reception to deal with land acquisition, personnel and pending litigation. The Council recessed at 9:27 P.M. and reconvened at 9:52 P.M. At this time Alderman Paden left the meeting. Alderman Nelson moved that the Council go into CLOSED SESSION to consider land acquisition, personnel and pending litigation. Seconded by Alderman Juliar. Roll call. Voting aye - Aldermen Nelson, Wollin, Collens, Rainey, Lanyon, Feldman, Warhsaw, Juliar, Drummer, Davis, Brady, Esch, Korshak, Morton, Washington. Voting nay - none. Motion carried. (15-0) The Council recessed into CLOSED SESSION AT 9:54 P.M. and reconvened into OPEN SESSION at 11:13 P.M. Alderman Nelson moved that Council Suspend the Rules in order to consider an item not on the agenda - the engagement of a search firm to assist the City in finding a new Fire Chief. On a voice vote, the Chair ruled motion failed. Staff asked clarification from the Council on how they wished to pursue this issue. It was the consensus of the Council to send out Requests for Proposals to search firms, including those who were finalists to conduct the search for the new City Manager. There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Barr declared the the meeting adjounred at 11:15 P.M. KIRSTEN F. DAVIS CITY CLERK fJ I. L91