Professional Documents
Culture Documents
There are several factors that should be considered during site selection for a library.
These include the
• availability of land and its acquisition,
• soil conditions,
• accessibility,
• climate, and
• Legal issues such as approvals for use and construction.
Each of these factors will affect a library’s real and perceived success whether success is
measured in terms of the
• quality of the design,
• construction cost,
• meeting the budget and building schedule,
• or patronage
1.1 Geography
Finding the proper site for a library is contingent upon understanding whom the
library might be serving.
• A central library, used by patrons from adjacent areas as well as by those who
might come a great distance, is usually sited in relation to major civic
facilities.
• Branch libraries might also be placed in a satellite civic center. Often,
however, the location of a branch library will be determined by its service
area, the zone a majority of patrons most likely will come from. (This
concept is similar to the retailers’ “catchment area.”)
• Another determining factor is the availability of land and its cost
• Generally, a central library in a large or mid-sized city should be in close
proximity to other civic institutions such as a city hall, cultural centers, major
open spaces (plazas and parks), and educational facilities (high schools, a
college or university).
Once a general area has been agreed upon for a new library, a specific site must be
secured. It is important at this point to have an understanding of the library building
program. How many square feet should the structure be? Will it be constructed in
phases? Will the facility be expanded over time?
• Library space programs usually describe net program area, or net square feet (NSF = area of
specific library functions such as reading rooms, stack areas, customer service and
administrative offices, but do not include common building spaces like public circulation
areas, restrooms, and mechanical rooms).
• The program will also define the gross program area, or gross square feet (GSF = a total
measurement of everything that must be contained in a building). The gross square feet
(GSF) is the only building measurement of concern during testing of the building’s fit on a
site. This gross program area can then be arranged and assessed on candidate sites in a
variety of building footprints.
• Development guidelines may specify the acceptable density that can be obtained on a
site.
• The most common measurement of density is floor area ratio (FAR), which measures
total building area to total buildable site area. For example, a proposed library of 20,000
square feet on a site of 10,000 square feet has a FAR of 2:1.
• Jurisdictions can set FARs that encourage or discourage higher density depending on the
setting and future vision for a particular district.
Setbacks
• Setbacks are buffer spaces that specify a distance back from a property line or an adjacent
structure to where a new building can be located.
• Setbacks were originally developed to prevent a fire spreading across property lines from
one structure to another.
• They also create yards and open space that can become desirable outdoor amenities
Easements
• Easements can apply where there are major utilities that require access for service.
• They are essentially zones within a site that cannot be built upon.
• Easements can also be required for existing or future transit.
Dedications
• Dedications are portions of a site that are required to be turned over to public land prior
to development proceeding.
Height Restrictions
• Local codes and guidelines often specify a height limitation by building type or by
district.
• They can define number of stories allowed or a maximum overall building height in feet.
• Height restrictions combined with required setbacks begin to define the building
envelope, within which the new structure must remain.
SITE ORIENTATION
4) Infrastructure
Estimate extent of new or
modified infrastructure needs
(water, power, tel/data, gas,
vaults, utility reroutes)
5) Topography
Gage extent of site grading
needed to prepare site.
6) Project Approvals
Compare environmental, design
and city approvals process.
7) Site Fit
Check library building program
on the site’s buildable area.
8) Parking
Check parking requirements
based on local codes and
recommendations. Factor in
costs for structure if needed.
9) Site Amenities
Assess opportunities for
accommodating gardens and
gathering places.
Criteria (continued) SITE A SITE B
10) Future Expansion
Check if site can accommodate
future growth.
Hydrology Studies
Surface hydrology is an integral part of the slopes and subsurface drainage systems. The
kinds of information normally indicated and analyzed include determination of watersheds
(basically a system of ridge lines and valleys or drainage patterns), duration and volume of
flow, swales, streams, standing water, and flood plain definition. Susceptibility to erosion
and the problem of sedimentation to off-site water flow are also problems to be noted.
Generally it is advisable to avoid disturbing natural subsurface drainage patterns such as high
water tables which have implications for locations of structures or excavations
Topography and Slopes – Treatment of these factors requires base information in the
form of contours and elevations to a degree of accuracy appropriate to the proposed
development. For general planning, topographic information such as is available from
U.S. Geological Survey quadrangle maps may be suitable. However, more detailed site
design requires more specific elevations from aerial or field surveys. Visually, as well as
functionally, the form of the landscape, its slopes and patterns are one of the most
important categories to consider, no matter what the proposed land use. The topographic
map provides a considerable amount of information including drainage patterns and
problems, potential on-site and off-site views, erosion and sedimentation potential, as
well as potential for development. There are standards that establish categories of slopes
related to suitability for different uses and activities. These standards are somewhat
regional. For example, the acceptable range of slopes in the mid-West is apt to be more
restricted than that used in western Pennsylvania or West Virginia where steeper natural
slopes are more prevalent. A typical slope breakdown might include:
Closely related are the soils characteristics which are frequently a direct product of the
underlying geology. The soils may be important in terms of stability, suitability for
structural foundations, erosion susceptibility, surface drainage, and soil fertility to support
plant growth. Again, the suitability of soils is very much dependent upon the proposed
uses. A site suitable for intensive structural development may be unsuitable for
recreational activities and vice-versa
Influences of topography on the natural systems of a
site:
controls flow of surface water drainage networks
controls pattern of erosion and sedimentation
What to look for in site reconnaissance:
the shape of the land drainage patterns and landforms (terrain
units)
slopes steepness, cover, aspect many important aspects of land
use and site optimum slopes for parking lots, house sites, streets,
playgrounds, lawns, and so on.
Slope Constraints on Development
Site with slopes averaging less than 1%:
Usually result in areas of poor drainage and larger than normal gravity flow
systems. Otherwise, they offer few development constraints.
Sites with slopes averaging 1 3%:
Usually offer the least topographic constraints. Positive drainage
can normally be attained without excessive site regrading. These
sites are suitable for a wide range of development types;
unfortunately these are often our best farmlands.
Sites with slopes averaging 3 5%:
These sites impose only slight constraints, except to
developments that require large, fairly flat surfaces, e.g. play
fields, parking areas, and major structures such as m
manufacturing plants and warehouses.
Sites with slopes averaging 5 8%:
Impose slight constraints to developments with small structures
and minimal site coverage and support systems. Constraints
increase with the size of structures and with the percentage of
site covered. These slopes have a formative impact on site
organization, as well as on the orientation of buildings and roads.
Sites with slopes averaging more than 8%:
Generally impose severe constraints to development. These
slopes normally exclude structures with large footprints and
severely increasing the cost of even small structures. On the other
hand, unique visual amenities often make these sites desirable
places on which to build.