World's top architects covet design job for new library

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World's top architects covet design job for new library

Thursday, March 11, 1999

By STEVEN GOLDSMITH
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Some of the world's top architects appear to be tantalized by the chance to design Seattle's $156 million new Central Library.

Richard Meier, Moshe Safdie and Michael Graves were among the hot architects who sent representatives yesterday to a question-and-answer session about the downtown library to open in 2003.

"It's an exceptionally attractive project," said Joshua Ramus, a Rotterdam architect whose firm recently designed the Jussieu University library in Paris.

Other firms represented yesterday included those of Cesar Pelli, who designed the world's tallest building in Malaysia, and Peter Bohlin, who created Bill Gates' Medina mansion.

In all, more than 60 local and international firms attended a session to discuss the 355,000-square-foot landmark that will replace Seattle's 40-year-old library at Fifth Avenue and Spring Street.

Approved by 70 percent of Seattle voters last November, the project is on a fast track. Architects must submit their qualifications by the end of this month. Three to five finalists will be selected by April 22.

Finalists will be grilled by a 13-member advisory panel, the five-member Library Board and Seattle citizens. The Library Board picks the winner May 18.

The project has provoked friendly philosophical tension at City Hall between Mayor Paul Schell, a former University of Washington architecture dean who seeks a structure of global significance, and City Librarian Deborah Jacobs, who's intent on getting a building that works smoothly and efficiently.

"Mayor Schell is as passionate about good architecture as I am about good libraries," Jacobs said yesterday. "Together, we make a good marriage."

Past library design work isn't required. The key is to have done an excellent job on buildings of similar scale and complexity, said Alexandra Harris, the library's capital project director.

Meier, for example, is famous for the Getty Center in Los Angeles. Graves and Safdie created widely praised libraries in Denver and Vancouver, B.C., respectively.

Not to be outdone by the international set, Seattle firms at the meeting included NBBJ, designer of Safeco Field, and LMN, designer of Benaroya Hall.

Those involved with the new Central Library -- part of a $240 million citywide expansion project that encompasses 26 locations -- said they were thrilled with the caliber of architects showing interest.

"This is the top list," said Gordon Walker, a local architect consulting on the library.

However, John Pastier, a local architecture critic, said a great design would be more likely if the Library Board had assembled a design competition rather than asking for submission of qualifications.

Library officials said a competition would take too long and could produce a structure that looks great on paper but wouldn't necessarily fit Seattle's needs.

Pastier also said design professionals should be more heavily represented on the volunteer Architect Selection Panel than the current five members out of 13.

Still, architects yesterday spoke of their excitement about the chance to create a Seattle landmark and to take part in a highly visible project that got some extra star power when Bill and Melinda Gates wrote a $20 million check to help buy books and technology.

Ramus, who'd come from the Netherlands, said the urban site and "overwhelming public support" added to the attraction.

Fifth Avenue and Spring Street has been the site of the city's Central Library for a century, starting with an ornate Carnegie Library, which was replaced by the current, 206,000-square-foot version now widely considered cramped and inefficient.