The Great Hizzy! Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Pretty sweet news. The first thing to go has to be the frayed and soiled carpeting. http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/sto...tml?jst=b_ln_hl 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkjones98 Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 I don't know if any of you have ever been in our downtown library, but it is absolutely abhorred. It is dirty, ugly, and is more of a "free daycare" than an educational institution. The article says that it will be close until 2007 and spending like 14 mill., so that sounds to me that they will be really fixing the place up.http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories...tml?jst=b_ln_hl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Plastic Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 14 Mil, how does a library cost 14 Mil?It doesn't look that bad at all to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 this is great news for our city. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Plastic Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Not really, I don't go to the librabry.........onnly time I do is to use an internet terminal. Other than that I go to a Barnes an Noble to read books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...5233&hl=librarymerge?it is going to be...odd...for it to be closed for that period of time. i can't wait to see it when it's done, though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesternGulf Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 (edited) So they are removing the red carpet? At first I thought this was about the historic library across the plaza. Nothing horrid about that library. Edited February 23, 2006 by WesternGulf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Not really, I don't go to the librabry.........onnly time I do is to use an internet terminal. Other than that I go to a Barnes an Noble to read books.I guess its a good thing you're not the sole voice of the 2.1 million taxpayers who fund the library then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssullivan Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 This has been in the works for a couple of years now. I know that in late 2004 and early 2005 they had some renderings in the main lobby area on the ground floor of what the interior will look like when completed. It looked really nice, although one thing I didn't like was the replacement of the current escalators with stairs. I'm not sure if that's still the plan or not though.While I like the library building, the interior really needs refurbishment. The carpets are worn all the way through to the concrete below in places, and the furniture is in desperate need of replacement. But this is not just a cosmetic renovation. Structural changes to the building's floorplan are going to greatly increase the amount of public space in the facility. I believe they are also installing a wi-fi network throughout the building, and reworking all of the plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems as well. The plaza in front of the library is also going to be rebuilt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largeTEXAS Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Anyone know who the architect is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesternGulf Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 and I am the only one who struggles to sit in those computer chairs? You need some serious balance for those things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Note two identical topics merged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kam Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Well.I've heard this renovation has been in the works for a long time. I've heard since 1998. I also heard they were going to get the ball rolling in 2004. There's been some delays and proposal changes. But now, they got the okay, to go on with this project.They're going to get rid of the escalators, and replace it with stairs. I know that can't go over well with us "fat houstonians." Those escalators suck. Sometimes, if you're riding on it, they stop all of a sudden. They're going to replace the two old elevators and add a third elevator in in the middle area.They're going to be repaving the plaza area. When it rains, water leaks below into some offices. Yup, under that plaza, there are offices in there.That red looking sculpture called Geometric mouse or whatever. That's going to be moved to in front of the Julia Ideson building.They target opening day for the building will be at the end of 2007.The Julia Ideson building will still be opened though.I don't know if any of you have ever been in our downtown library, but it is absolutely abhorred. It is dirty, ugly, and is more of a "free daycare" than an educational institution. The article says that it will be close until 2007 and spending like 14 mill., so that sounds to me that they will be really fixing the place up.http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories...tml?jst=b_ln_hlMan, that is soooo true. The place isn't nice. I think this is the first major renovation in the buildings history. The carpet sucks. It's just a thin layer. I wouldn't go as far as calling the library an educational system.This has been in the works for a couple of years now. I know that in late 2004 and early 2005 they had some renderings in the main lobby area on the ground floor of what the interior will look like when completed. It looked really nice, although one thing I didn't like was the replacement of the current escalators with stairs. I'm not sure if that's still the plan or not though.While I like the library building, the interior really needs refurbishment. The carpets are worn all the way through to the concrete below in places, and the furniture is in desperate need of replacement. But this is not just a cosmetic renovation. Structural changes to the building's floorplan are going to greatly increase the amount of public space in the facility. I believe they are also installing a wi-fi network throughout the building, and reworking all of the plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems as well. The plaza in front of the library is also going to be rebuilt.Yeah, they're killing the escalators for the stairs, which I am in favor of. I just hope this doesn't mean more people will use the elevators. There is actually alreaday a wi-fi network there. It's located on the second floor in the business section of the library. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Will microfilm/microfiche records be available during reconstruction? Where will they be housed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danax Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 They're going to get rid of the escalators, and replace it with stairs. I know that can't go over well with us "fat houstonians." Those escalators suck. Sometimes, if you're riding on it, they stop all of a sudden. They're going to replace the two old elevators and add a third elevator in in the middle area.That red looking sculpture called Geometric mouse or whatever. That's going to be moved to in front of the Julia Ideson building.They target opening day for the building will be at the end of 2007.I say keep and just refurbish the escalators. They'll be originals and considered classics one day.And Mickey Mouse; hopefully moving to the Ideson is only temporary as it would clash horribly with the beauty of that 1926 building. It needs to go back in front once renovation is complete as it's very '70s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kam Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Will microfilm/microfiche records be available during reconstruction? Where will they be housed?I could look into that.I say keep and just refurbish the escalators. They'll be originals and considered classics one day.And Mickey Mouse; hopefully moving to the Ideson is only temporary as it would clash horribly with the beauty of that 1926 building. It needs to go back in front once renovation is complete as it's very '70s.Escalators are gone for sure. The new staircase will be "a grand staircase."and Geometric Mouse is staying in front of the Ideson building permanently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimberlySayWhat Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Channel 11 did a report on this last night. I haven't been inside that library in years, but I'm excited about this. By the way, carpet inside any public building makes my skin crawl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gto250us Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 I am glad to see the upgrade. All in all I think the Houston Library is a joke. It serves more as a homeless shelter than a library. Especially when compared to others like the Boston Library of New York library. After all Houston is the 4th largest city in the USA. evern Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have better libraries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesternGulf Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 (edited) Why would you be surprised Philly has a better library, or even Pittsburgh for that matter? In a sense, Philly is larger than us. Edited February 24, 2006 by WesternGulf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 The library boasts a high volume count and calls itself "world class," but statistics like that are misleading. In terms of the depth of serious reading you can do there, it is roughly the equivalent of a good high school library. Someone should take the Modern Library's poll of the 100 best fiction and 100 best nonfiction books of the twentieth century and see how many show up in a card catalog search. I bet only a small portion, and the ones they do have are probably scattered all around the branch libraries.At some point very early on, somebody in the library decided that building a serious collection of volumes was not a priority. I'm not sure where the money goes - probably technology and interactive crap. Luckily the Fondren library at Rice is open to non-students, so that is usually where I go if I am looking for a book in Houston. I once saw a website that overviewed the serious libraries in the United States, and the only two in Texas were located in Austin and in College Station. It's sad - Houston is probably the largest city in America without a great research library. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Good news! I've visited on several occasions ands the place was an embarrasement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 You should check out UH's new library. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kam Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 From what i hear, it's going to be "Worth the Wait." Atleas that's the little slogan going on.two years. two freaking years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 You should check out UH's new library.That lib > * Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houstonian in Iraq Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 (edited) Here's an artist rendering of what the renovated DT library is suppose to look like And here is the article that came with it Edited March 19, 2006 by Houstonian in Iraq Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunstar Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 It looks just like the current one with a bunch of cheap color splashed on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h-townsfinest Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 holy crap, do we have to bash every single good thing that happens to this city, yeah smart one its the same building, and mybe if you read the article you'd see why its not a brand new building, maybe thats why its called a RENOVATION, and it looks good, bettwr than before, looks more uniqueman a lot of things are gonna be done by late 2007, Pavilions, the new downtown park, and our library, downtowns gonna be nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kam Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 This is closed. If you want to see a library, go check out Seattle's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kam Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 I guess I could give an update... The escalators are done. They've been removed for a month or so now. I think on the second floor is where they have done the most work. They moved the book shelves that were on the second floor to the third and first floor. They're currently working on the sixth floor also, I think. That's where IT used to be housed, and other old crap. yeah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkjones98 Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 I guess I could give an update...Any update on this? I would like to hear what the interior is going to look like and have not found anything on the net. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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