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Expansion and Renovation Project
Why are Renovations and an Expansion Needed?
The building is aged and its systems are outdated, having been constructed in 1957 and expanded in 1968 and 1992. Also, the Library has over 27,000 registered borrowers and is expected to exceed 35,000 by 2033. The Library does not have the space to accommodate the growth trend.
The analysis in the Master Plan portrayed a building that is ADA deficient in many aspects, in need of many infrastructure repairs or replacements, lacks storage and sufficient security measures, needs larger public restrooms, a larger Local History Room, and meeting space to accommodate larger audiences.
Renovations and the proposed two story expansion of 6,600 square feet will address these issues. The entire building will be designed to attain LEED Silver certification.
Timeline
Meetings and Events
Most recent listed first.
- Community Meetings (January 30 and 31, 2018)
- Attendees provided input on the services and spaces important for the Library to have over the next 30 years.
- Town Hall Meeting (July 20, 2016)
- Library Board Meeting (February 5, 2015)
The Library Board of Trustees held a public meeting to explain and discuss the proposed library expansion and renovation for the FY16 Capital Improvements Plan. Displays with conceptual views of the project were available for review and a brief PowerPoint overview was presented.
Master Plan Addendum
An Addendum to the Master Plan was presented to the Council and Planning Commission on January 5, 2015 by library consultants from McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture and EsoArc Studio. It proposes an expansion plan that could be accomplished in one of two ways--an east or west addition--along with a potential renovation plan of the current building on its present site. The cost of either option is estimated at approximately $8M, adds 6,600 sq. ft. of new space, and completely renovates the existing facility. The additional space would provide: expanded children's and young adult spaces, new meeting room space for programs and community use, additional space for all collections and Local History, and expanded study spaces.The renovation of the current facility would provide more energy efficient lighting, replace the heating and air conditioning system and plumbing infrastructure, replace the aging elevator, create larger public restrooms, and improve the layout so it maximizes workflow and use of adjacencies in the building. Renovation would also bring the current facility into American with Disabilities Act compliance.
The Addendum also contains conceptual designs and a cost estimate for an adjacent parking deck. The deck would be a separate, but parallel, Capital Improvement Project and is not part of the library's expansion and renovation cost estimate.
Master Plan Background
On October 16, 2013 the Library Board of Trustees received and accepted the final draft Master Plan Development and Space Study Review for the Mary Riley Styles Public Library as presented by a team of consultants in response to a city Request for Proposal issued in November 2012. This draft plan outlined a study of the existing programs and services of the library with recommendations on what was needed in the future. It also provided documentation on the existing facility's space shortfalls, ADA issues, and mechanical and equipment needs now and for the future. Based upon the growth in population over the next 20 years and the library programs and services projected for that time frame, it suggested what space will need to be added to meet those needs. View the Complete Draft Master Plan Development and Space Study Review.
It included options with conceptual drawings on how to address the expanded space needs while remaining in the current location of the present library, which was strongly expressed as a "want" by the public. It also included approximate costs for those expansion concepts.
The Library Board of Trustees submitted a FY15 Capital Improvement Project budget request to raze and rebuild the library on its current site. However, Council adopted an $8M budget for a library expansion project and asked that conceptual plans be revised to show what could be provided for that amount of money. The resulting Master Plan Addendum was then drawn up and submitted to Council and the Planning Commission at the January 5, 2015 joint work session.
The Library Board continues to solicit public input about the library's proposed library expansion and renovation project.
Responses can be made by email or by letter addressed to the Board of Trustees at the following address:
120 N. Virginia Ave.
Falls Church, VA. 22046
The Library Board of Trustees submitted a FY15 Capital Improvement Project budget request to raze and rebuild the library on its current site. However, Council adopted an $8M budget for a library expansion project and asked that conceptual plans be revised to show what could be provided for that amount of money. The resulting Master Plan Addendum was then drawn up and submitted to Council and the Planning Commission at the January 5, 2015 joint work session.
Public Comments
The Library Board continues to solicit public input about the library's proposed library expansion and renovation project.
Responses can be made by email or by letter addressed to the Board of Trustees at the following address:
120 N. Virginia Ave.
Falls Church, VA. 22046