Future of the Library

Project Definition for the Proposed Park Ridge Public Library

Prepared by Owner Services Group, Inc.
200 West 22nd Street, Suite 209
Lombard, IL 60148
Executive Summary
Process
Architectural Approach
Concept 1
Concept 2
Concept 3A
Concept 3B
Concept 4
Concept 5



Executive Summary

The objective of this report is to prepare reasonable order of magnitude budgets for proposed building concepts for the Park Ridge Public Library.

The following is a general overview of the proposal concepts. A more detailed description is included in the detailed backup section for each concept.

Concept 1 Provide a three-story addition to the east and south sides of the existing building, renovate the entire existing building.

Concept 2 Construction of a new three story building on the current library site, with below grade parking. The concept includes demolition of the existing library building before start of construction.

Concept 3 Construction of a new three story building on the current library site adjacent to the existing library building. The concept includes demolition of the existing library building after completion of construction.

Concept 4 Construction of a new three story building on the reservoir site with below grade parking. The concept includes demolition of the existing library building after completion of construction.

Concept 5 Construction of a new three story building on the current reservoir site, with additional parking on the Bredemann site. The concept includes demolition of the existing library building after completion of construction.

Process
Owner Services Group, Inc. evaluated building cost based on an 80,000 square foot building program developed by the Park Ridge Public Library. The 80,000 square foot program is based on revisions from a July 5, 2000 space needs analysis assessment completed by Library Planning Associates, Inc.

Owner Services Group, Inc. with assistance from the LZT Filliung Partnership developed various site concepts for best use of three potential sites; current library site, pump station reservoir site and Bredemann car dealership site.

Based upon program and site needs the Bredemann site was not sufficient in size to support a new building and site infrastructure. It was evaluated under concept 5 as a parking lot to supplement a building on the reservoir site.

Architectural Approach

Based on the planning of an expansion to 81,000 s.f and assuming that the building is divided into three (3) floors; a 27,000 s.f. footprint is created.

A conservative parking estimate for an 80,000 s.f. library building would be calculated at three (3) cars per 1,000 s.f. or 3 x 80 = 240 parking spaces required.

A rule of thumb estimate for determining the potential size of a parking lot, including aisles, islands, drives and the parking spaces themselves would be to assign between 350 s.f. to 450 s.f. to each parking space, or 240 x 400 s.f. = 96,000 s.f. of paved area.

Adding the 96,000 s.f. to the 27,000 s.f. footprint equals 123,000 s.f. of land required or 123,000 43,560 s.f. per acre = 2.82 acre minimum. It should be noted that this number does not include any open landscaped green space or any space for the detention of storm water.

The above standards were applied to all of the concepts.

Project Milestone Schedules

Preliminary milestone schedules have been included for each concept. Schedules reflect assumptions on activity logic and durations in order to project escalation and inflationary cost. Actual logic and durations could vary depending on unforeseen site conditions, subsurface conditions, and reservoir relocation timeframe, owner and city of Park Ridge review and evaluation requirements.

Concept 1

This scheme involves adding a 50,000 s.f. three (3) story addition to the existing library footprint, as well as gutting and substantially remodeling the existing building. This scheme would also rely on a complete redesign of the surrounding parking lot, including the commuter spots.

Vital Statistics of this Scheme Include:

  • 86,400 s.f. building.
  • 110 parking spaces.
  • Library will need to relocate to a temporary site during the construction process.
  • Building small entrance is relocated to the south face of the structure facing the parking lot.

    Advantages

  • Prominent location is maintained
  • Maintains adjacencies to current patron traffic patterns
  • Maintains green space

    Disadvantages
  • Existing building configuration and inefficiency promotes larger building program
  • Options for building addition location are limited
  • Requires temporary site for library operation during construction
  • Construction costs are higher than a completely new building
  • Construction duration is similar to a completely new building

    Concept 2

    This scheme retains the current library site, however the existing building is completely demolished and a new three (3) story 81,000 s.f. Library is constructed in its place atop a 27,000 s.f. staff only parking garage. Surface parking is redesigned and maintained in its current location on the site.

    Vital Statistics of this Scheme Include:

  • 81,000 s.f. building.
  • 119 surface parking spaces and 56 garage spaces, which equal a total of 175 spaces.
  • Existing green space is reduced to allow for additional parking.
  • Library will need to relocate to a temporary site during the construction process.
  • Building entrance is relocated to south elevation of building opposite the parking lot.

    Advantages
  • Prominent location is maintained
  • Ability to expand parking under new build
  • Maintains green space
  • New building maximizes program efficiency
  • Adjacencies to current patron foot traffic patterns

    Disadvantages
  • Requires temporary site for library operation during construction


    Concept 3A

    This scheme also retains the current library site as in Concept #2, however the difference here is that the new library would be constructed immediately to the south of the existing library in what is now the current parking lot. After construction is completed the library would move to the new location and then the existing building would be demolished and surface parking or a parking garage with park space would be constructed in its place.

    Vital Statistics of this Scheme Include:
  • 81,000 s.f. building.
  • 118 outdoor parking spaces
  • Existing green space could remain with the construction of a below ground parking structure or would be reduced to accommodate surface parking.
  • Current location is maintained.
  • Library can remain open during the construction process.
  • Building entrance would be located on the north east side of the building facing Touhy Ave.
  • On site parking would be eliminated during construction.

    Advantages
  • Prominent location is maintained
  • Library operations are maintained in existing building during construction
  • Maximizes building site with new library location
  • Ability to incorporate parking garage and retail space adjacent to library.

    Disadvantages
  • Green space is isolated from building
  • Library location slightly closer to train noise
  • Loss of significant parking during construction

    Concept 3B

    This scheme also retains the current library site as in Concept #2, however the difference here is that the new library would be constructed immediately to the west of the existing library in what is now the current parking lot. After construction is completed the library would move to the new location and then the existing building would be demolished and surface parking or a parking garage with park space would be constructed in its place.

    Vital Statistics of this Scheme Include:

  • 81,000 s.f. building.
  • 111 outdoor parking spaces
  • Existing green space could remain with the construction of a below ground parking structure or would be reduced to accommodate surface parking.
  • Current location is maintained.
  • Building entrance would be located on the east side of the building.
  • On site parking would be eliminated during construction.


    Advantages
  • Prominent location is maintained
  • Visibility from Touhy Ave, Summit and Prospect Ave.
  • Ability to maximize retail on Prospect Ave
  • Library operations are maintained in existing building during construction.
  • Ability to incorporate parking garage and retail space adjacent to library maximizes building site with new library location.

    Disadvantages
  • Library distance from Prospect Ave is increased
  • Traffic noise potential increased from Touhy Ave.
  • Possible isolation from Prospect Ave if retail or parking garage is incorporated on site.
  • Loss of significant parking during construction

    Concept 4

    These schemes relocate the library north of Touhy Ave. to the current village reservoir site. A three (3) story building atop a below grade parking garage would be placed toward the eastern edge of the site to help maximize surface parking and to maximize visibility of the building. This location is somewhat an “island” in downtown Park Ridge since it is difficult to walk to and from the major downtown areas without navigating across extremely busy streets and intersections. These concepts should also be considered a long-term approach since planning for the relocation of the existing reservoir has not even been initiated. A realistic time frame for relocating to this site would be between three (3) or four (4) years.

    Vital Statistics of these Schemes Include:

  • 81,000 s.f. building with some awkward geometry due to the site configuration.
  • 145 outdoor parking spaces, 62 indoor parking spaces.
  • Very limited amounts of green space or landscaping due to maximization of building and parking upon the site.
  • The building entrance would be located on the west elevation of the building opposite the parking lot.
  • The building entrance would be located on the west elevation of the building opposite the parking lot.

    Advantages
  • Increased parking availability
  • Maintains highly visible site location
  • Library operations are maintained in existing building during construction

    Disadvantages Location isolated from Uptown area and Prospect Avenue
  • Crossing Touhy and Northwest Highway will impact patron foot traffic between library and retail areas
  • Timeline to relocate reservoir is uncertain

    Concept 5

    This scheme utilizes the reservoir site and some of the Bredemann Car Dealership site. In this scenario the building would be located next to Summit Avenue which would be vacated by the village. Parking would be located to the west of the library and parking would extend east toward the narrow end of the reservoir site. The new parking located on the Bredemann site would be shared with a new strip retail development along northwest highway. This scheme will not be developed further because it offers the poorest location for the library (visibility of the building is dramatically obscured by the Summit Square Building) and does not provide any advantages to the library over what has already been discussed.

    Vital Statistics of these Schemes Include:

  • 81,000 s.f. building
  • 238 parking spaces total.
  • Very limited amounts of green space or landscaping due to maximization of building and parking upon the site.
  • A highly visible site is maintained.
  • The library can remain open during the construction process.
  • The building entrance would be located on the east elevation of the building opposite the parking lot.

    Advantages
  • Largest number of parking spaces
  • Library operations are maintained is existing building during construction

    Disadvantages
  • Central location of building footprints limits visibility
  • Location isolated from Uptown area and Prospect Ave.
  • Crossing Touhy and Northwest Highway will impact patron foot traffic between library and retail areas
  • Timeline to relocate reservoir is uncertain
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