The Trustees engaged the service of an architect and began to draft
plans for the new building. Sadly the chosen architect, Charles T.
("Ted") Bellingrath, passed away in November 2005, at which time the
concept phase of the building design process had been completed. Some
months were spent carefully considering the choice of a successor
architect. Ultimately, the Library was fortunate to obtain the service
of Jeremiah Ford, III, founder and principal of Ford3 Architects. Jerry
has undertaken the design development phase of the Library building
project with great care, insight and enthusiasm.
THE DIFFERENCES
In Jerry's drawing, the rooflines are higher. Why?
1) In Ted's design, there was no functional second floor. In the design
development after Ted died, the library planning committee decided that the
community room, which was originally in the center of the basement level and
inaccessible when the library was closed, should be moved to a second floor
so that it could be useable/accessible before and after the library's
regular hours. Part of the reason they could do this was that after Ted
died, the Cape Cod Commission shifted its regulatory focus and it appeared
that the library would be able to "move into" upstairs programming without
incurring the Commission's regulatory oversight. This turned out to be the
case.
2) Putting the community room upstairs meant that by code, the elevator had
to go upstairs, too. Ted HATED roof penetrations, including those to
accommodate elevators, so knowing that, Jerry added the roof height of the
main building to hide the elevator shaft. Then he increased the height of
the reading room area so that the angles of the two rooflines would more
closely match. And he added the (gas fireplace) chimney and window
treatments to soften the effect. Also, putting the community room upstairs
required another foot or two of mechanical space to accommodate heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning. This happens any time a building goes
from one floor to multiple floors.
In Jerry's drawing, there's a front porch, in addition to the entry
portico.
Why?
When Ted did his design, Wi-Fi was in its infancy. Now Wi-Fi is everywhere.
As an information center, especially in a tourist village, the library
planning committee wanted to be able to provide Wi-Fi access to residents and
visitors alike, even when the library is closed. A covered porch provides
that capability in a considerate and hospitable way. Also, the porch's
horizontal roof line visually softens the peak of the building.
In Jerry's drawings, there are no skylights. Why?
Only a discerning soul would even notice this! Ted wanted to get as much
light as possible into the main room. Working through the details of design
development indicated that putting skylights in that location would have
very costly structural complications, and the planning committee
realistically had to take those into account. But in order keep the room as
bright as Ted intended, west-facing windows were increased and natural
light, over the course of the day, will be the same or greater.
These changes are part of the normal evolution of building design when,
following schematic design, the process moves into design development and
construction documentation. One of Ted Bellingrath's great strengths was
his ability to listen to his client and deliver a facility designed to serve
the client's needs. Jerry Ford picked up exactly where Ted's work left off,
and he is designing and delivering a building in the same spirit and style
that will be both elegant and functional as it meets the community's needs.
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| Ted Bellingrath | Jerry Ford |