MCPL: About the Rockville Library

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About the New Rockville Library

Architectural Highlights:

In the design for the new library, Grimm + Parker sought to find a way to commemorate a significant local occurrence -- the mapping of the human genome -- on a large public scale that would subtly and respectfully pay homage to this very important, historical discovery.

Overall, the building follows the curvature of Maryland Avenue, while the exterior wall undulates along the curve – a subtle reference to one half of a double helix. The landscaping along the Maryland Avenue façade completes the other side of the double helix, also in a subtle-yet-elegant fashion.

This signature element of the library’s design gives the building an appropriate civic presence, as well as a unique physical expression that makes a memorable, inviting impression on visitors to the new Town Center.

There are towers at two prominent corners. The one at the corner of Beall and Maryland avenues marks the gateway to the new Town Center and also is highly visible to motorists on Rockville Pike. The second tower -- at the corner of Maryland Avenue and the new Town Center Plaza -- serves as a marquee for the library and attracts the eye from Maryland Avenue to the south facing plaza façade to the main entrance.

A glass roofed canopy extends out to the plaza to invite entry. A tall portico element expresses entrance at a large scale and is visible from beyond the plaza area.

The service entrance is discreetly located in the northwest corner of the site, along Beall Avenue near the adjacent retail service drive.

Size:
102,670 gross square feet

Three stories

First and Second Floors -- Library (64,285 gross square feet), Retail (3,645 gross square feet)

Third Floor -- 34,740 gross square feet (29,875 net square feet)

Library Administration and Friends of the Library (12,125 net square feet); Geographic Information Systems (5,545 net square feet); Office of Human Rights (6,835 net square feet); Literacy Council of Montgomery County (4,190 net square feet); and Department of Public Works and Transportation (1,180 net square feet).

Parking:
Street parking and nearby parking garages, plus a drop off area and nearby short-term parking.

Dates: The substantial completion date was October 2, 2006, and the library opened to the public on November 29, 2006.

Site:
The Rockville Town Center facing the town square. The address is 21 Maryland Avenue.

Books & Collections:

The collection has approximately 200,000 items which include print and non-print.
Special Collections include: Business Information, Government Information, Children's Resource Collection, serving the childcare community; Disability Resource Collection, including large print books, and the Talking Books program from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress.

Technology:
Approximately 22 PCs on each floor are available for public use. A PC lab with adaptive hardware and software. Wireless Tech (Wi-Fi) available to anyone who brings their own properly configured equipment. The building will have energy efficient glass, heating, and cooling.

Library Features:

Children’s room, teen area, popular materials center, world languages (Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese), circulation functions, and a staff work room on the first floor.
Adult and reference areas on the second floor, the disability resource collection, including two quiet study rooms, group study rooms, tutor rooms, computer lab, a public meeting room, and Ask-A-Librarian Services.

Architecture & Interior Design:
Grimm & Parker Architects, 2 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1350, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Steve Parker, Melanie Hennigan, Rick Morrison and Karen Erickson

Public Art:
A terrazzo floor, "Connections," designed by Maryland artist Heidi Lippman is the focus of the two-story atrium.

Engineers:
Civil: A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc., Vasyl Mytsak
Structural: CEI Engineering, Randy Haist
Mechanical & Electrical: Gipe Associates, Scott Dixon/James Wright

Furniture:
Hodkinson Associates, Inc., Dayle Bentley

Contractor:
Forrester Construction Company

Funding:
Approximately $26.3M, includes design, site work, construction, furniture & equipment, and funds to enhance and enlarge the collection.

County Project Managers:
Hamid Omidvar, Chief,Design Section, DPWT
Shri Gondhalekar, Architect, Design Section, DPWT
Jim Stiles, Assistant Chief, Construction Section, DPWT
Barbara Norland, Public Services Administrator, MCPL

Leadership during this building project:
Isaiah Leggett, County Executive
George Leventhal, President County Council
Phil Andrews, Councilman, District 3
Parker Hamilton, Director, Public Libraries
Dan Beavin, Rockville Library Manager

Library Board:
Dr. Lois H. Neuman, Chair
Eric F. Grosse, Vice Chair

Rockville Library Advisory Committee/Friends Of The Library-Rockville Chapter:
Gayle Selkin-Gutman and Ellen Sachs, Co-Chairs

For more information, visit the Montgomery County Public Libraries & the City of Rockville Websites: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library, www.rockvillemd.gov