Utah State Library  

History:
The Central Branch Library opened in September 1988. As its collection had grown to approximately 110,000, and as the population of the Layton area grew, it became clear that an expansion was necessary. The expansion added a limited amount of new square footage to the building itself; however, it added a significant amount of space for collections and public service. This was achieved by remodeling existing staff workspace and space that had been used for housing magazines and turning it into public space. Consequently, space for collections and public services was increased by approximately 20-25%.

This expansion of public space became a new children's room of 4,000 square feet and featured several custom pieces of furniture and display units designed in collaboration with the Children's Treehouse Museum of Ogden and funded by a grant of $50,000 from the Val A. and Edith D. Green Foundation. The children's room, named after the donors, is designed and decorated on the theme of Where Imagination Takes Flight. Additional remodeling was undertaken in different portions of the building, new circulation, reference and public Internet desks were added, and most of the building was recarpeted.

The newly built space, separated from the public service areas, houses staff work functions. In addition, two attractive public conference rooms were built under the existing glass canopy that extended out over the entrance. They are larger and more attractive than the original rooms and receive excellent natural light. Overall, the remodel and expansion has taken a building that seemed cramped and enclosed and has opened it up dramatically. At the same time, a unique and visually dynamic children's room was created, and space now exists for a collection of between 150,000 and 160,000 items.

Remodel opened:
October 18, 2002

Location:
155 North Wasatch, Layton

Service population: 64,175
Holdings: 115,883
Circulation: 432,844

Library Director:
Pete J. Giacoma, peteg@co.davis.ut.us
Architect: CRS Architects
Contractor: Sapp Construction

Square footage:
Same - 110,000 sq ft but with 25% increase in space for collections and public services

Unique features:
1. The display features, custom furniture; a mobile that hangs over a large design of a compass cut into the carpet; a display unit that permits voice to be added to book displays; a 12' mural specifically designed for the space that shows a panoramic view of Utah through the seasons (including the Central Branch Library) and is printed on fabric. 2. New, well designed service desks that include stone tile in their facades that coordinates with the color of the carpet and the prevalence of copper as a color theme throughout the building.

Building/Construction challenges:
1. Designing an expansion for a building that was not intended to be expanded. The original design of the building was as a well-coordinated square, and finding a way to expand it on the existing site - e.g., coping with slopes, etc. - was extremely challenging. 2. Carrying out a remodel and expansion in a space part of which is being actively used on a daily basis for service. 3. Integrating utilities from a new space into an existing space.

Community impressions:
Overwhelming positive, both because the remodel and expansion opened up the entire library and made the space feel larger, and so visually vivid and exciting. Longer-term benefits are the increased collection size and additional seating, as well as the separation of the children's area reducing noise factors from the adult area.

Recommendations to others:
1. If you are building a library now, build it with an understanding of how it could be expanded in the future. You will save either yourself or those who come after you an immense amount of anxiety and cost if you take a forward-looking view of the project and design from the outset for adding on. 2. Think about the value of creating a stunning interior as a trade off in costs against some minor reduction in size. The money spent on interior work, even if it means building a little bit smaller than you might think, can pay off in public perception of the space.