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Design Goals for the Main Library Project
Create a new important civic building that builds upon the strong architectural heritage of Oak Park, a building that reflects the diversity of the community, a library that is inviting and user friendly that will service the citizens of Oak Park well into the future.
- Meet library space and parking needs.
- Provide flexibility to meet future unknown needs.
- Create an environment that is open, warm, inviting, and user-friendly.
- Create a variety of study and reading spaces to facilitate more effective use of the collections and resources of the Library.
- Respond sensitively to the existing urban context, especially Scoville Park
- Minimize impact on the natural environment through the use of sustainable building materials and systems.
Context
The Library site is a transitional location within the Village. It is
about midway between the two primary commercial districts. It is adjacent
to three other institutional buildings – the Post Office, Unity Temple,
and First United Church. These buildings differ stylistically, but each
is rendered in monolithic materials that give each a monumentality appropriate
to their institutional functions. By contrast, the east side of the Library
site fronts the Jens Jensen designed Scoville Park, which has an informal
and organic character.
Scoville Park
Scoville Park has been appropriately described as Oak Park’s living
room. A sense of enclosure that varies seasonally defines this outdoor
room. When there are no leaves on the trees, the buildings surrounding
the park define a sense of enclosure. Landscaping defines a sense of enclosure
for Scoville Park when leaves are on the trees. Two photos taken in the
summer from the park towards the Library illustrate that an existing tree
line largely conceals the Library. New construction will not alter this
tree line.
Site Constraints
Grove Avenue terminates in a cul-de-sac that provides fire access along
the north edge of the Library property. The Library will dedicate a 20-foot
wide alley for this purpose. A three-lane wide ramp from Lake Street provides
access to the below grade parking garage. The east edge of the ramp can
be no further than 19 feet west of the centerline of Grove Avenue Stacking
to allow for left-hand turns from Lake Street southbound onto Kenilworth
Avenue and northbound into the Library garage. This presents a challenge
in locating the building entry. Finally, there is the physical relationship
between the proposed library, its neighbors, and Scoville Park.
