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City Hall Expansion: Use of Construction Managerit 1 I MEMORANDUM CITY OF CHANHASSEN 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 (612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739 ' TO: Mayor and City Council ' FROM: Don Ashworth, City Manager DATE: March 15, 1995 SUBJ: City Hall Expansion Mayor and City Council March 15, 1995 Page 2 , which showed that, as I recollect, nearly 80% of the people had read the newsletter and 80% ' favored expanding city hall to include the seniors and library. The answers to Mark's specific questions come through the space needs analysis completed by KKE. Again, this is a document that goes back well over six months and could easily be forgotten (copy attached). The spacial analysis completed as a part of that study is key to responding to Mark's question regarding using the lower space by other departments in city ' hall. But first, let me start by stating that departments having a high interrelationship score become the most difficult to separate. For example, separating personnel at the front counter from the Park and Recreation Department would require major duplications in one area or the ' another. Departments having medium interrelationships, such as Engineering and Finance, would see some duplication of equipment and personnel, but not nearly as drastic as would exist between park and the front counter. By contrast, moving Public Safety to the lower area ' would cause the least amount of additional equipment and personnel. The space needs analysis showed a need for approximately 5,600 sq. ft. by Public Safety. The existing combined area of the library and senior facility is 5,800 sq. ft. Councilman Senn is correct in ' that no diagram was ever prepared which would actually show how Public Safety could fit into the combined space of the library and senior facility. However, as their two spaces are almost identical, it is logical that Public Safety could fit in the area currently housing the library and senior center. Before the council would potentially act to reconsider previous decisions, I would ask that you consider the financial aspects of moving the library and senior facility out of city center commons. Specifically, both groups would assuredly ask that the city pay for the replacement space. The library would remind the council that, without them, city hall referendums failed ' the first two times around. With them, it passed on the third try. The space needs analysis carried out by the library in 1992 shows their needs as a minimum of 15,000 sq. ft. for the ' library with an additional 3,500 sq. ft. meeting room. They were requesting a 60 space parking lot, with a total net acreage of 1.65 acres. I find it very difficult to believe that lands could be purchased for both the library and senior center and construction completed for less than $2 to $2.5 million —such being my estimate as to what we can carry out expansion of city offices (including underground parking in the northwest corner of the building) and provide adequate expansion space for seniors and the library (including necessary parking and ' meeting rooms). [Please note that the above statements do not include the words "including council chambers." My fear is that the council chambers, including restrooms, closets, and studio, could be $500,000 —an amount which would likely break the bank. The next set of schematics that the council may review may very well show that my cost estimates are pretty close and that the city may wish to consider leaving the council chambers as a second phase addition.] ' 7 Mayor and City Council March 15, 1995 ' Page 3 ' The second financial consideration which I would ask the council to consider is a recognition that the existing lower level of city hall does have restrooms, employee lounge, storage, and places for things like snow blowers, janitorial items, etc. These would all be duplicated spaces if the library and senior center were relocated on their own isolated sites. In addition, library personnel often are not as tolerant as I would like in terms of recognizing that we must set priorities for where and when we plow, when items can be repaired /replaced, etc. ' Isolated locations would not double the problems, but more realistically triple or quadruple them. IJ Finally, is a recognition of operating costs. We heat and cool the council chambers and that room is used virtually every night of the work week. Staff continues to regularly use that room for meetings with larger groups during the day. Our costs are no more or no less for maintaining that building whether the library uses it for two hours per week for story time, petting zoo, Bozo the Clown, etc. The opposite would not be true if the 3,500 sq. ft. was located on an isolated site. All of the above makes the assumption that in fact the city council would build replacement square footage for both the library and senior center. Carver County will not build replacement space. They recently went through this in one of our western cities (I think Cologne). That city now no longer has a library. The decision as to whether or not Chanhassen should have a library or senior center can only be answered by the city council — another reason this memorandum is being sent to the entire city council. Mark: I hope you're not disappointed with my preparing this response to the entire city council. However, a number of the issues you presented are questions which can only be answered by the city council itself. March 8, 1995 ' To: Don Ashworth Fr: Mark Senn Re: City Hall Expansion I Quite honestly I was surprised and was taken back by the amount of work that had gone into plans for a City Hall expansion. What ' we saw seemed way beyond an initial concept stage. What is the cost associated with the work so far? In the last two meeting when this issue came up I asked and was ' assured that a general concept would be developed for expansion, and also a general concept of fully utilizing existing City Hall space would also be studied and developed. I saw absolutely no concept at the work session that showed me how needs could be met ' with the library and senior center located elsewhere than in City Hall. Sometimes I think I'm speaking to a blank wall. When the space survey outlined space needed I raised two questions: ' One Are these the real needs or the ultimate needs ?, and Two - what does re- allocation of existing space such as the library space and the senior center space achieve in meeting our needs? ' The second question is the one I'm referencing that I've raised each and every time this issue has come up. I'd appreciate responses. I didn't want to force the issue at the ' work session in front of the two architects but I still do want these questions addressed. I u I CHANHASSLN CITY HALL Appendix A PROJECTIONS v ?,N 0 KKE Architects October 5, 1994 CHANHASSEN CITY HALL Q � ' l� Projections ' 1 The ratio of city service employees to the population of Chanhassen and the square footage of the facilities this city government has occupied in the past are cited in this section. Proposed expansion is specific expansion that is known at this time. Future ' expansion is derived fi the past trends observed and the maximum population city officials expect in Chanhassen. ' The expansion indicated for the library is based on State Library Guidelines for Cities to be a total of one square foot per resident for library services. Beyond this, by ' sharing meeting rooms, toilets, and other facilities with the city, efficiencies are gained. Another impact on space needs is the resident's use of libraries in the surrounding cities because of close proximity. ' Facilities for a Senior° Center is a desirable city offering for the community. The space allocated for this would be flexible and adaptable as programs change and as city ' government needs change. fl KKE Architects October 5, 1994 1 CHANHASSEN NERDS ANALYSIS Building Year Size of Bldg SF Staff SF per staff person Population % Staff/ Population Fire Station' 1973- 1980 4,768- ' 7 - 9 681 - 533 3,000 - 5,000 .36% - . 37% City Hall' 1980-1987 11,167' l.7 ( +2 I9) - 39 ( +5 P'l) 620-294 5,000 - 7,000 .36%-.54% City Hall Addition' 1987-1994 , 15,288' 40-45 382-339 339 7,000 - 13,000 ° .57,6 - .34.6 Proposed Expansion' 1995-2000 23,549' 60-70 389-333 15,000 - 20,000 .4%-.35% Future Expansion' 2000+ 34,908' 87 - 105' 333-330 25,000 - 30,000 .4% - .35% i. uoes not include Library and Senior Citizen Center square footage. 2. 4 to 6 additional positions not housed in City (-tall. 3. Proposed Expansion staff and size of facility is based on spaces needs analysis. 4. Projected staffing and size of facility based on past patterns. KKR ARCHITECTS CITY OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS Definitions of Program Areas ' The areas indicated in this report are expressed in terms of Base Area, Net Area, and Gross Area. The following explains this terminology. ' BASE AREA is the individual space allocated for an office, work station, or equipment needs. It is measured from the center line of normal office partitions and the interior ' surface of exterior walls, or, if the walls are more than 50% glass, to the glass surface. Base area square footage is designated as "SF ". NET ARIA is the result of multiplying the base area by an appropriate ro riate factor for ' internal circulation within a department area. The factor is theoretical for planning purposes and is an average which allows that open work spaces will layout with a 10 20% factor, areas with private offices will layout with a 30% factor, and Council Chamber related spaces use a range of factors depending on the size of the spaces and the amount of circulation (Common vs. segregated). Net area square footage is ' designated as "NSF" GKOSS AIJ:A is the total area of a building including exterior walls. For planning , purposes, it is the result of multiplying the net area by an appropriate factor for stairs, elevators, public toilets, mechanical /electrical rooms and shafts, common corridors/ lobbies and exterior wall thickness. Gross area square footage is designated as "GSP ". , The existing facilities were surveyed and the department areas calculated from dra»•ings provided by the City with changes that were noted and measured during a ' walk- through of the facilities. These areas are identified in the report as "Present Space ". "Current Needs" identifies the amount of space necessary to satisfy current ' identified needs. 'Expansion Spaces" identifies the future needs up to five years. KKE Architects September 28, 1994 ' i CITY OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS �. r Department Summary Space Present Space Allocation Current Space Required Proposed Expansion Future Expansion Administration * 3,015 4,295 4,815 7,511 Council Chambers 1,280 3,360 3,360 3,600 Engineering 938 1,918 2,041 3,041 Finance 658 845 1,092 1,703 Parks & Recreation 333 ** 1,295 1,386 2,162 Planning 417 946 946 1,475 Public Safety 21681 3,861 4,628 7,219 Subtotal Net Area 9,322 16,520 18,268 26,711 Subtotal BUildilIg Gross 16,434 21,476 23,748 34,724 Library 3,260 6,000 7,500 11,000 Senior Center 1,506 1,506 1,506 1,506 Subtotal Net Area 4,766 6,506 9,006 12,506 "Total Net Area (NSF) 14,088 23,026 27,274 39,217 Total Building Gross (1.iM917) 21.200 29,934 35,456 50,982 * Includes shared Conference rooms, Staff Lounge, and General Storage on Lower Level. ** Includes storage of equipment. * ** Meeting roam needs shared with Council Chambers space. * * ** Could serve as expansion space for city services. Senior Center services could be housed at other sites. KK1; Architects September 28, 1994 CITY OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS ' - AFT IM% 1 Preliminary Space Standards ' Type of Space Net Square ' Feet City Manager Office 224 Director Office 180 Staff Office 120 Sul-e►-visor, Administrative Support, 'Tech Workstation 70 Intern /Seasonal Workstation 48 1 Other spaces such as conference rooms, work rooms, waiting 1 areas are sized according to specific needs 1 1 1 KKE Architects c , September 28, 19)4 1 CITY OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS Administration Present Staff. 5 full time, 5 part time Present Space Allocation: 3,015 square feet Existing space does not allow for expansion. Work /copy /mail room, supporting other departments, is not set up efficiently. Staff lounge is too open. Building maintenance and storage is not adequate. Required Area: 4,295 square feet Future Space Needs and Considerations: • Larger waiting area. • Larger copy /xvork room /mail /storage area that is centrally located and efficient. • More file space. • Each workstation needs a phone. More conference /meeting space because of frequent scheduling conflicts. • Desirable to have some Conference Rooms available during off hours. • Computer network needs to be isolated. • Areas need to be secured. • Larger maintenance and work area. • Clerical and work /mail /copy room will continue to support Park and Recreation, Planning, and Engineering. • \Fork /mail /copy room is also shared with Finance. • Loading dock. Primary Growth Factors: • Population growth Adjacency Priorities: • Park and Recreation • Finance • Planning • Engineering • Public Safety II hhl; Architects September 28, 1994 CITY OI' CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS Administration Space Present Space Allocation Current Space Required Proposed Expansion Future Expansion City Manager 224 224 Assistant City Manager 120 120 Office Manager 70 70 Clerical (2) ** 140 280 Reception (3 I'T) ** 210 280 Waiting ** 100 100 Conference Room 180 180 Piles 110 200 \ \'ork /,]ail /Copy Room * 400 500 Commuter Nct Station 80 80 Building Maintenance and Storage * * ** 600 600 Administrative Intern 70 70 Staff Lounge /Kitchenette * (15 -20 people) 300 300 Large Conference Rooms (2) 700 700 Subtotal (SF) 3,304 3,704 'I otal Net Area (1.3 %) (NSF) 3015 4,295 4,815 7,511 * Shared with other departments ** Supports other departments * ** Shared with other departments, available to Community * * ** Loading Dock KKE Architects September 28, 1994 CITY OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS Council Chambers Present Staff: Present Space Allocation: 1,280 square feet `ice The present Board Room is too small, does not allow for expansion, and is not adequate acoustically and electronically. Present kitchenette does not work. Presently there is an HVAC problem in the Council Chambers (winter air conditioning; needed). Required Area: 3,360 square feet Future Space Needs and Considerations: • Council Chambers need to allow for seating; for 90 - 100 people with adjacent Conference/ Meeting; Itooms allowing; for 30 -40 more people. These rooms will double as "Community Rooms" and be available for library programs. • A kitchenette that would serve the Chambers and Conference Rooms. • "Main Lobby" area for people before and after meetings with some seating;. • Rear escape for Council members with teh, least amount comotion is desireable. Primary Growth Factors: • Population growth Adjacency Priorities: • Entrance • Library KKE Architects September 28, 1994 CITE OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS �P`► Council Chambers Space Present Space Allocation Current Space Required Proposed Expansion Future Expansion Council Chambers /Meeting Room 2,200 2,200 2200 A/V Control Room 180 180 180 Kitchenette 60 60 60 Coll ference /Con III unity Rn0111 S 360 360 600 Subtotal (SI.) 2,800 2,800 Total Net Area (1.2) (NSF) 1,280 3,360 3,360 3,600 KK1; Architects September 28, 1994 7 C L 7 7 i CITY OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS Engineering Present Staff: 6 full time, 2 part time Present Space Allocation: 938 square feet Space does not allow for expansion, both for staff and storage. Public must walk through other departments to reach Engineering, which is undesirable. Required Area: 1,915 square feet Future Space Needs and Considerations: • Service counter needs to be proxided to handle increased daily public use. • Workstation needs to be provided for the GIS system. • More plan file space Primary Growth Factors: • Population growth Adjacency Priorities: • Entrance • Planning • Finance KKE Architects September 28, 1994 CITY OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS Engineering Space Present Space Allocation Current Space Required Proposed Expansion Future Expansion Director /City Engineer 180 180 Assistant C:itl Ellgineer 120 120 Water Resources Coordinator 70 70 L'ngineerirng 7 eclulician I 70 70 Engineering Technician 11 70 140 Clerical (1 FT, 1 P'1 140 140 Intern 70 70 CARD /GIS \Workstation 70 70 Service Counter 100 100 Work Room 100 100 files /1'1,111 Re\'ie%\' 75 100 Equipment Storage 50 50 Conference Room 180 180 Remote Storage 100 100 Print Room $0 80 Subtotal (SF) 1,475 1,570 Total Net Area (1.3%) (NSF) 938 1,918 2 3,041 7 0 u r KKIi Architects September 28, 1994 CITY OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS Finance Present Staff. 4 Present Space Allocation: 658 square feet Space does not allow for expansion. Required Area: 845 square feet Future Space Needs and Considerations: • :Sore file and work space. • Additional work area for Account Clerk. • \X'ork station for future assistant. Primary Growth Factors: • Population growth Adjacency Priorities: • Administration F8 KK1: Architects September 28, 1994 C17Y O1' CHANHASSLN NEEDS ANALYSIS Finance Space Present Space Allocation Current Space Required Proposed Expansion Future Expansion Treasurer 180 180 Assistant 120 Finance Coordinator 70 70 ;'Account Clerk 70 140 Account Clerk 70 70 1-'iles $0 80 Work Room 80 80 Data Processing; 100 100 Subtotal (SF) 650 840 Total Net Area (1.3%) (NSF) 658 845 1,092 1,703 KKH Architects September 28, 1994 CITY OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS ti. Library! "` Present Staff: Present Space Allocation: 3,260 square feet Space does not allow for current needs or expansion. Required Area: 5,000 square feet for service and books, 3,500 square feet for programs. Future Space Needs and Considerations: • Community Rooms used by others during evening could be used for library programs during the day. ' • Rest rooms and kitchen facilities could also be shared. • Area for petting zoo, story time, and other programs for up to 200 children and adults. The council chambers is presently used for this. This arrangement ,,ould continue and this meeting space would be identified as the "Council Chambers ". Primary GroNi- Factors: • Programs offered • Population growth Adjacency Priorities: • Entrance • Toilets • Meeting Rooms I I KK1: Architects September 28, 1994 f CI'I "Y Ol. CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS Library Space Present Space Allocation Current Space Required Proposed Expansion Future Expansion Lihra►y 5,000 7,500 11,000 'total Net Area (NSF) 3,260 5,000 7,500 11,000 i j j L k KKE Architects September 28, 1994 CITY OF CHANTHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS Park and Recreation Present Staff: 6 Present Space Allocation: 333 square feet Location of department is good, however space allocated is inadequate for storage, privacy, expansion. Although the new elementary school will provide some space for large equipment storage it will not fulfill all the current and future needs. Required Area: 1,295 square feet Future Space Needs and Considerations: • More file and ,vork space. • Additional work area(s) for personnel and interns. • Additional meeting space. • Need for eN•ening and weekend access by part time and public for registration of Community Programs. • Expansion space for support staff. Primary Groxt,Th Factors: • Population groxvth • Programs offered Adjacency Priorities: • Close to entrance • Administration • Planning • 1:nginecring • Public Safety KKE Architects September 28, 1994 CITY OP CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS Park and Recreation Space Present Space Allocation Current Space Required Proposed Expansion Future Expansion Director 180 180 Recreation Supervisor 70 70 Recreation Supervisor/ Senior Coordinator 70 70 Conference 180 180 Files, Programs. Equipment Storage 400 400 Support Staff 70 Intern /Seasonal(2) 96 96 Senior Linkage Coordinator Park Superintendent ** Park Equipment Operators (3) Subtotal (SF) 996 1,066 Total Net Area (1.3%) (NSF) 333 1,295 1,386 2,162 * Located in Senior Center ** Located at Public Works building; KKE Architects September 28, 1994 CITY OF CHANHASSPN NEEDS ANALYSIS Planning Present Staff: 4 Present Space Allocation: 417 square feet Space does not allow for expansion or for a reference library and is noisy. Required Area: 946 square feet Future Space Needs and Considerations: • Library of reference material available to all. • More storage. • A meeting /work area is needed. Primary Growth Factors: • Population growth Adjacency Priorities: • Engineering • Public Safety • Park and Recreation K Architects September 28, 1994 o , CITY OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS Planning Space Present Space Allocation Current Space Requited Proposed )expansion suture Expansion Director 180 I'lanner II (2) 140 I'lanner I 70 Intern 48 Conference 180 Libran, 60 Reception * 50 Subtotal (SC) 728 Total Net Area (1.3 %) (NSF) 417 946 946 1,475 u 0 * Shared I KKE Architects September 28, 1994 CITY OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS Public Safety Present Staff: 11 full time, 4 part time Present Space Allocation: 2,681 square feet Space does not allow for expansion. hequired Area: 3,861 square feet Future Space Needs and Considerations: • Expansion space for future employees providing more services. • An alternate records management system needed to be developed because of increasing needs (microfiche, rotary /speed files). • Larger service counter and waiting area. • As automation is incorporated space needs to be allocated. • More meeting space. • Security. • Additional parking space. • Separate entrance is desirable for contractors and building inspectors. Primary Growth Factors: • Increase in services offered • Population growth Adjacency Priorities: • Close to an entrance • Close to designated parking L KKI: Architects September 28, 1994 CITY OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS Public Safety Space Present Space Allocation Current Space Required Proposed Expansion Future Expansion Director 180 180 I'ublic Safety Officer 120 120 Fire ]Marshal 120 120 Dire Inspector 70 Sheriff Dept. Office (3) 210 210 State Patrol Office (2) 140 210 Conununitn• Sere Officers (4) 280 280 Dept. 'Nattlral Resource's 70 Reception 70 70 Clerical (2) 140 210 Crime Prevention Officer 70 Shared Workstation 70 70 Building Inspector (3) 210 280 Mechanical Inspector (3) 210 280 Conference Room 300 •300 Service Counter /Reception 190 190 Waiting 100 100 Lockers/Staff Toilet 80 80 Plan Review /Work Room 100 100 Files 400 500 storage Room 50 50 Subtotal (SF) 2,970 3,560 Total Net Area (1.3%) (NSF) 2,681 3,861 4,628 7,219 KKE Architects September 28, 1994 CI"IY OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS Senior Center Present Staff: 1 Present Space Allocation: 1,506 Includes work station for Senior Linkage Coordinator, toilets and kitchen. Accessibility is good. Required Area: 1,506 Future Space ,Needs and Considerations: ' o. The area for this Senior Center location could relocate depending upon the needs Of the City offices. Area for a Senior Center should include a kitchen, toilets, work station, and meeting area. It should be centrally located and easily accessible. Primary Growth Factors: • Population growth • Programs Adjacency Priorities: Entrance KKE Architects September 28, 1994 C11Y OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS f Senior Center Space Present Space Allocation Current Space Required Proposed Expansion Future Expansion Senior Linkage Coordinator 70 INecthig /Activity Room Storage Kitchen Toilets 'Dotal Net Area (NSF 1,506 1,506 1,506 1,506 Ll I� KKE Architects September 28, 1994 1 L CITY OF CHANHASSEN NEEDS ANALYSIS ADJACENCY MATRIX - CHANHASSEN CITY HALL ADMINISTRATION ©\ ► 1 �I LEVEL OF I HIGH 3 MEDIUM 2 LOW j NONE COUNCIL CHAMBERS 2 4 1 ENGINEERLNG 4 1 1 4 2 F INANCE 2 4 3 3 1 4 PARKS AND RECREATION 3 4 1 2 4 4 PLNNNING 3 4 4 2. 4 4 PUBLIC SAFETY 4 3 4 4 LIBRAltl' 4 4 SENIOR CENTER ©\ ► 1 �I LEVEL OF I HIGH i MEDIUM 2 LOW j NONE 4 tk . KKE Architects September 28 1994 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 � J W W J J J Ct Q W _ CL �— Cn U w Z J W U U) L Q 0 = Z Z Q _� = X U w Z- O .. CHANHASSEN CITY HALL EXISTING FACILITIES - LOWER LEVEL m m m = r = m = m m m m m m m m m m PARKING REQUIREME Today, 85% to 90% of a public library's users come to the library by car. With a majority of library users living beyond easy walking distance and the future projected population growth taking place in the outlying city and county areas, vehicular access and parking will continue to be an important feature of the Chanhassen Library. The City of Chanhassen on -site parking requirement for public libraries is: For principal structure 1 parking space per 500 square feet of gross building area plus For meeting rooms 1 space per 4 seats � I Exa=les: 12,000 square foot library with a 60 seat meeting room 24 seats principal structure .1i seats meeting room Total 39 seats @ 350 square feet = 13,650 square feet required for parking 15,000 square foot library with a 90 seat meeting room 30 seats rind al structure P P 21 seats meeting room T 350 square f = otal �3 seats @ feet 18,550 square feet required for parking General, non - specified, retail parking in Chanhassen: r "A minimum of five spaces for the first 1,000 square feet of floor area plus one space for each additional 200 square feet of floor area." The general guidelines for public library parking across the county is: three to five spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross building area. ' Each parking space requires an allocation of site area for the parking space, driveways, etc. of 300 - 350 square feet. Government Workplaces Often lack Aesthetic Appeal of Private. Businesses Roger K. Lewis What kind of buildings do you think society should provide its government employees to work in? building volume is wasted for M I'M 6LI ( J WNT WZr- non de uiator? Public build - on't have to be expensive or lavishly finished and fur- nished, just well composed to make commodious environ ments and to become memora- the furniture is old and well worn government issue. It is a pitiful work of architecture. The second building, in con- 55(* W/GTEV GN , i:iA avzFIC 6 FE A WN6H el'F TE CAEFW T WOLW A6rlf:�F _V Hl~ I routinely visit government ble landmarks within their urban S?� trast, reminded me of how occa- G�CrS _ G�JSIGN I agencies - federal, state and 10- sionally delightful government ` or suburban communities. cal. Some government offices ce boil can be. It rep re- �` ' Ultimately belonging to and offi are housed in buildings that are sents an effort by the same local ,y - _ -_ _. :,� ' : r serving the public, civic edifices relatively pleasant environments government to symbolize America's democratic create a digni- in which to meet or work, but fled, well crafted, spatially gen- - ` : Y `- - : institutions and, presumably, so- many are not. A few are down- emus municipal services build ciety's shared values. Therefore, right dreadful. e ' % ` �= �I %: - whose important civic role is �' � � '= -`_ proponents of lit architec quay - ing �., local I two 'n visited II buildings I recently enunciated m bold architectural � - tore argue, such b ill s g government bull located � i ' should oc buildings, sh. Po rtant , if not g I PY im terms. / � � , just a dozen blocks apart from A geometrically complex r �� i �,� prominent, sites, should be at one another. The two buildings - stricture enfused with natural tractive to look at and, inside, reflect the best and the worst of T ?_ �� 1 light, its finishes are durable and - should be conducive to government architecture. }— transacting the daily business of The fast building is ugly, both attractive without being exces- �- -- sively expensive, although they - \ government. inside and out. Passing through - \ This conflict arises when other its cram lobby nd to mar- are by no means the most eco- .� �� i Y long, nomical. Constructed a decade 7' types of public buildings are row corridors painted a putrid ago, the building is not overly -� - f programmed, funded, designed pink, I wondered how anyone luxurious, but it is not a cheap K. 6 and built. Schools, libraries, rec- not visually impaired could b1 stand to work there eight hours police 9-11 -94 reational facilities, and fine and police stations likewise are civic a day. The building expresses Taken together, these two pub- architecturally the lowest as- lic buildings illustrate a conflict contradictory notions about the nificance potentially expressed edifices in need of strategic lo- pirations of government. It is in values. There are citizens who meaning of architecture, the through a building's location as cation and architectural cha- uninviting to citizens and, I sus- believe that government build- role of government and the ob- well as its architectural vitality. risma. Unfortunately, these frequently pect, uninspiring to those who ings should aspire to higher ligation of citizens. And they do not consider gov- goals are not must inhabit it. ideals of architectural design. On the one hand, some see pub- ernment buildings to be their achieved. Indeed, budgets and .,.It is this egitAme, of spec -built But many other citizen are in- lic agencies as bureaucracies own. They instead think of them time schedules for such projects &ant ftiy, a "mid -block "office different at best and, at worst, staffed by civil servants unwor- as the property of bureaucrats typically are too constrained to reach beyond mediocrity, and,. building erected by a private d**.,; : :, `adamantly . opposed to such a thy of anything beyond basic disconnected from or even op- equally important, the most td1- veloper - for government, u e . notion. They believe govern- shelter, and certainly not de- posed to their own personal in- a q several:: decades sue. It jg;,.eaq rFi6rd agencies should be con - serving of space equivalent in terests. ented architects often are not 1. on the taxpayer's pocketbook tent with the least costly, most quality to private sector, first On the other hand, some ask, commissioned to design these with its minimal, low -cost fin- ° efficiently packed space allowed class office space. Further, they shouldn't government aspire to projects. Occasionally, some of ascribe little civic significance to architectural standards the best public buildings have e� �e .cM%t hANted moMpern . buikM sig- e Nagegalum� sp a priw,our do flat' EV spa health care facility, the Mayo Clinic. Registration Forms Youth, Education, and Families In 1987 under the leadership of Don Fraser, former NLC pres- ident and mayor of Minneapolis, a twenty -year vision for children and families in Minneapolis was created. There will be three tours offered — highlighting sev- eral programs developed to im- plement the "City's Children 2007 Vision." Some of the pro- grams that will be covered are Way to Grow, Neighborhood Early Learning Centers, Youthline, After School Pro- grams, and Hold Your Fire. The Minneapolis Public School sys- tem has embarked on a course which is drawing national atten- tion; where instead of hiring a traditional superintendent to head the systen From page 5 into a contract with a private management firm. A site visit to a school offering a new ex- tended learning program and conversation with the private management firm should create lively discussion. Coming Soon by Mail Coming soon to the mai boxes of all early registered de egates for the upcoming Coi gress of Cities and Expositio Dec. 1 -4, is a brochure from tl city of Minneapolis highlightir the host city events schedul( during the conference. Among the events is the NF match between the Minneso' Vikings vs. Chicago Bears (tic ets cost $35 per person) on Su day, December 4 and a trip 1 see Willie Nelson in concert the Mystic Lake Casino (ticke $37 per per person) on. Registration forms and moi information are included in tt special host city events bn chure which should hit COC de egates' mailboxes soon. ■ Cityscape From page 5 tracting both emerging and ex- perienced design talent. This oc- curred, for example, when Leesburg, Va., sponsored an open design competition for its new city hall a few years ago. The winning concept was con- structed and, without being lux- urious, has proved to be an aes- thetically positive addition to the city. France has adopted a nation- wide policy for selecting archi- tects to design almost all public buildings, even relatively mod- est ones, through a variety of well managed design compe- tition protocols. Consequently, both the aspirations of sponsor- ing agencies and the quality of public architecture in France, ranging from small primary schools to large governmental office complexes, has improved remarkably over the past de- cade. History suggests that civi- lizations are measured, in part, by the enduring quality of their civic buildings, that society's collective view of itself is mir- rored in its public architecture. With this in mind, let's hope that the structures governments are building today will reflect well on the image we want to project to future generations of our- selves and our society. ■ Roger K Lewis, FAIR, is a practicing architect and pro- fessor of architecture at the University of Maryland This article and cartoon first ap- peared in his Washington Post column, "Shaping the City. "MO Strengthening Local Economies See first-hand how Minneapo- lis has developed the design and infrastructure of its downtown, and how it is addressing the changes that will occur through its Metro 2010 Downtown Mas- ter Plan. Separate tours will look at the role the city has played in the restoration of three down- town theaters, and the construc- tion and operation of two down- town sports facilities, the resulted not from budgetary generosity, but rather from in- novative methods for selecting good architects. Government jurisdictions in- creasingly have sponsored de- sign competitions, either open to all comers or by invitation to a select few, to choose a designer and a design concept. Compe- titions stimulate new and more creative thinking while also at- 0 u 1