Renovation

Phase Three: Front Entrance, Lobby, and Circulation Area

In 2021, in preparation for Phase 3 of its long-range building vision, the Baldwin Public Library issued an RFP for the conceptual/schematic design of the Front Entrance and Circulation Area. Merritt Cieslak Design was selected to complete the work. The current entrance is not accessible and the goal of the project is to create a welcoming, street-level entrance that can be used and enjoyed by all Library patrons. 

In August and September, the Library conducted a variety of Outreach initiatives to gather feedback on the project. These initiatives included a public survey, community forum, and meeting with Library staff. Read the full Outreach Initiatives report.

The following meetings have been scheduled as part of the Conceptual and Schematic design process. All meetings will be held in person in the Library’s 2nd Floor Delos Board Room and on Zoom. Visit Baldwin’s Staff & Board page for current meeting notices.

• August 25, 2021 – Minutes
• September 22, 2021 – Minutes
• September 29, 2021
• October 13, 2021
• October 27, 2021
• November 3, 2021
• November 17, 2021
• December 1, 2021
• December 15, 2021
• January 12, 2022

Merritt Cieslak Design will present their project to the Library Board on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 and Library Director Rebekah Craft will present the proposed project to the City Commission at their long range planning meeting on January 22, 2022.

Phase Two: Youth Room Expansion & Renovation

In 2017, in preparation for Phase 2 of its long-range building vision, the Baldwin Public Library issued an RFP for the conceptual/schematic design of a Youth Room expansion and renovation. Luckenbach Ziegelman Gardner (architects) and Karen Swanson (interior designer) were selected to do the work. The Library presented its plans to the Birmingham City Commission in January 2018, and in May 2018 the Commission voted to begin pre-funding the project in fiscal year 2018-19. The City issued an RFP for the construction of the Youth Room in March 2019 and the City Commission selected The Dailey Company for the construction project. The project construction began on Thursday, August 15, 2019 and was completed in September 2020. The project cost came in just under the budgeted amount of $2.7 million.

Expansion and Renovation Goals

• • ENHANCE Baldwin’s ability to serve the children of our community by providing developmentally appropriate learning spaces for children from birth to sixth grade
  • SATISFY needs and requests shared by parents, caregivers, children, and staff that have been collected through a variety of forums
  • INCREASE value that the Library delivers to residents, businesses, and visitors of all ages
  • ENSURE Birmingham remains competitive against other communities who have invested heavily in their libraries
  • STRENGTHEN Birmingham’s civic center by providing an exterior that complements the existing building, Shain Park, The Community House, and the city campus

Expansion and Renovation Details

• • • 40% expansion, or approximately 2,000 square feet
    • New furniture and carpeting
    • Larger play area, story room, and seating capacity
    • Make the entire area ADA-compliant, including the book shelves and the bathrooms
    • Modernize and increase the capacity of the bathrooms
    • Add display cases and a large aquarium, as well as a separate room for strollers and coats
    • Expose the brick of the original 1927 building
    • Clad the room in heat- and glare-reducing glass from floor to ceiling
    • Add an outdoor children’s terrace and garden

Project professionals

• • • Architects: Robert Ziegelman, John Gardner, and Karen Swanson of Luckenbach Ziegelman Gardner Associates
    • Construction: The Dailey Company
    • Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment: Library Design Associates
    • Building Management: The City of Birmingham

Related Documents:

• RFP for Conceptual/Schematic design for Expansion/Renovation of Youth Services
• Fanning Howey’s 2011 conceptual/schematic design for proposed renovation of Library
• Library building program developed by George Lawson
• Vision for Future of Library Building, adopted by Library Board in 2014
• Long-Range Building Vision 2016
• RFP for Design Development and Construction Documents for Expansion/Renovation of Youth Services

Phase One: Adult Services

Phase One was completed in May 2017, thanks to the following team of talented and dedicated professionals:

• Architects: Luckenbach Ziegelman Gardner
• Interior Designer: Karen Swanson
• Construction: The Dailey Company
• Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment: Library Design Associates