Vintage

"It would be nice if the computer area was an enclosed, quiet space for those visiting them for online school or testing."

"I think the building exterior should not be modern.  It would be nice to have it designed to look like an historic downtown building." 

Out door landscaping on the south corner 6^th Ave side:  “Develop comfortable outdoor hang out social space.  Not just picnic tables, but semi private, landscaped, and available for sculpture or even musicians.”

“Look to the future, 10 years from now.  Can the foundation support a third floor?”  Jack Turnbull concerned about running out of space too soon.

“Consider capturing additional south space here.”  “Use this space.”  Comment on filling in the triangular space on the south alley side. 

“I’m a little concerned about the curved space for walls in the museum.  No glass please!”  “Concerns about curved wall for museum because that might cut into the amount of usable space for displays.”  “Windows might bring in too much light for the museum exhibits.”

“Yeah, for the kitchen!”

“Make these walls moveable too—for maximum potential space—ability to serve from kitchen into large meeting room.”  “Moveable wall so as to expand large meeting room if needed.”  “Meeting space is critical for local non-profits, small conferences, agencies workshops.  Outfit meeting space with state of art electronics like projection, videoconference.”  Comments on the meeting space area and kitchen.

“Suggest at least a 72” wide 84” high doorway for getting large objects in and out.”  Richard Hocking Alaska Sealife Center

“Boiler room next to the collections room?  Is that safe?” “Boiler adjacent to museum collections storage?” 

“There are dozens of local artists with world class skills.  Can they contribute?  Perhaps with the “one-percent for art” program.”

“Put young adults closer to circ desk.”

“An older building for Seward would be nicer.”

“With minimal solid wall space in the library there is little space for libraries art to be displayed.”

“Exterior is too modern looking for Seward—would like to keep the OLD SEWARD flavor!”

“Prefer more natural materials like stone, wood.  Want to avoid hard edge modern look.  Avoid Sealife Center, AVTEC dorm and Safeway appearance.”

“Encourage artistic detail in structural elements.”

“Exterior window walls beg for high heating costs.”

“I like the modern look.”

“Use exterior material that could have murals painted on it.”

“I like the organic, contemporary look.”

“Stone”  (arrow to front entrance walls) “from Alaska?”

“I agree with putting in a rough basement for future use.”

Email comments:

Assuming that the Mary Lowell Center will eventually be built, the library design should include a welcoming entrance off the alley to the southwest to accommodate foot traffic from the center.

I strongly encourage the building committee to choose a very energy-efficient design that satisfies the needs (not wants) of the museum and library.

The library-museum should incorporate energy-efficiency in every aspect from the well-designed shell with generous insulation, efficient boiler, arctic entries for every entrance, automatic doors that WORK (if used), down to energy-saving light fixtures with automatic sensor and setback controls, fiber-optic lighting for museum displays, water-saving restroom fixtures (both toilets and sinks), towels vs air dryers, etc.

SMALL, well-placed windows will allow views of our spectacular surroundings while conserving on energy, provide wall space, reduce UV exposure, and reduce bird strikes. Natural ventilation options should be considered for summer use. I was not impressed by the "grand piano"

glass wall design even if it did use fritted glass in part. I prefer a more traditional, conventional wall that is easy to build, easy to clean, and which accommodates right-angled furniture.

A textured cement exterior could be very attractive as well as sturdy and long-lasting. This could also simulate our town's historic stucco exterior design.

I'm sure the architect is aware of many, many options for creating a fabulous, attractive, affordable, and efficient building.

Keep it simple, not flashy.

Thanks for all the work the steering committee has done.