At a recent meeting of Arlington’s city council, members voted unanimously to approve an architectural firm to undertake the design process for the newest city library.
The firm selected was Dewburry Architects of Dallas, and it was awarded the $42.5m contract to draw up designs for the new facility, as well as the public plaza, council chambers, and street parking that make up part of the plan.
The new central library will be a replacement for the existing one, which is 40 years old. While no firm idea for the look of the structure are in place as of yet, one thing that the councilors are prioritizing is the need for plenty of light, and for it to be a space in which people want to spend time relaxing and using the facilities. The total size will be approximately 80,000 square feet, and will also include a more accessible council meeting room.
It is also hoped that the new building will be more energy efficient than the older building, to the extent that it will be granted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver status.
Over the next few months, public input into what the new library should look and feel like will be sought. Brochure printers will be able to produce promotional materials that will keep the public abreast of the developments.
