Washington Highlands Community MeetingSummary of Community Comments and Questions

Meeting Date: June 30, 2009

What is the life span of the current building and of the proposed building?

The current building, which was built in 1959, is a one-story, brick and steelstructure. It has reached the end of its life span of about 50 years. The newbuilding will be constructed of concrete, steel and glass. It has an anticipatedlifespan of 50 years.

Why does the building's overall exterior design not fit the character of theneighborhood?

The design of the new Washington Highlands Library is modern and iconic. As acivic building, it does not seek to blend in with the residential buildings in theneighborhood. The library is designed to be “forward-looking” while providing awell-lit, comfortable, safe and esthetically pleasing structure.

Why did the library consult the Commission on Fine Arts (CFA) before coming tothe ANC?

The U.S. Commission on Fine Arts (CFA) is a federal agency whose mission is togive expert advice to the President, Congress and the heads of departments andagencies of the federal and District of Columbia governments on matters of design and aesthetics. Projects under the Commission's purview include thedesigns of federal and District government buildings. There are two levels of review for projects – concept and final.The library is required to submit designs to the CFA for their review and approval.Therefore, we try to present design concepts to the CFA as early aspossible. With this approval, the architect can move forward knowing the designis on the right track for final approval. The design for the Washington HighlandsLibrary has received concept approval from CFA. We will go back before CFA for final approval in the fall.

There is concern about the stability of the retaining wall. It has never beenrepaired. Who will pay for the home owners' attorneys if they have to sue for damages to their property as a result of the construction?

As part of the construction of the new Washington Highlands Library, theretaining wall will be extended and fortified to add more stability; therefore we donot expect any damage to neighboring homes. A thorough engineering study wasconducted to assess the condition of the retaining wall and to determine howclose the new building could safely come to the existing wall.The building contractor will conduct a thorough pre-construction survey of thesurrounding area using video and digital images to document the conditions prior to construction. The pre-construction survey will be distributed to the surroundinghome owners as a record.

Representatives from ANC 8E are upset that the library did not include them or consult them in the design process.

ANC 8E was notified of the intent to build a new Washington Highlands Library inOctober 2008. Additionally, the chairperson of ANC 8E served on the panel toselect the architectural/design team very early in the process – prior to thedevelopment of any designs. The commissioners of ANC 8E and commissionersof the other ANCs in Ward 8 were invited to participate in the communitymeetings, focus groups and surveys.

What percentage of the architectural drawings is complete right now?

Architectural designs have three stages: schematic drawings, designdevelopment and construction drawings. The drawings shown at the meeting arein the design development stage. There will be further refinement of thesedesigns based upon feedback from the community, the U.S. Commission on FineArts and other considerations.

Elevators and fire safety – how will customers in wheelchairs or walkers get out during a fire emergency?

Unlike the current building, the new building will be equipped with a sprinkler system. In addition, the new building will have an alarm system that willbroadcast directions during an emergency.Also, the stairwells serve as a “zone of refuge” – a clearly mark area designed for persons with disabilities to safely wait for rescue. These areas are fire rated for two hours. These zones of refuge will provide a safe area until emergencypersonnel evacuate individuals from the building.

Concern about placing the children's room on the 2nd floor – it will be harder for children to get out in the case of a fire.

Young children will be accompanied by adults or older children. Library staff willbe available to assist children in cases of emergency.

Library needs to engage a broader community -- all of Ward 8. Would like thelibrary to form a Ward 8 design team to sit down and work on the design with thearchitect.

The library has hosted three meetings at which the community was able to speakdirectly with the architect and provide feedback. In addition, the library conductedfocus groups with adults, teens, parents with young children and communityleaders. More than 70 residents provided input through a survey. The librarygained valuable input from the community through these means.

Why not renovate the current building instead of building a new one?

The projected construction cost to build the new Washington Highlands Library is$10,848,561. The current building presents limitations as to what the WashingtonHighlands Library could be, including low ceiling height, the existing structuralgrid (column and beam locations), and the building footprint. Changes to any of these features would be very expensive. We are presented with a greatopportunity to provide a completely new, well-lit, sustainable, ADA-compliantlibrary that will be an asset to the Bellevue community and the city.

What impact will the new design have on services for visually and hearing impaired customers?

The building will be able to better accommodate programs and services for thevisually and hearing impaired customers.

How is the building heated and cooled?

The design of the building’s heating and cooling system gave strongconsideration to LEED requirements and sustainability. The system is made up of an “air side” and a “water side.” The systems will work in conjunction with oneanother to efficiently control the temperature and control the humidity of thebuilding.

Have you taken into account the local soil conditions and water run-off patterns?

The library conducted a thorough geotechnical study of the site prior to beginningdesign. The geotechnical engineer drilled eight 45-foot deep holes at variouslocations to determine the exact soil conditions at the site. The buildingcontractor will be required to maintain positive water run-off drainage during theconstruction activities; this will assure the surface water will not seep or run intoareas that it previously did not.