Mayfield Library Hosts Open House for Design Input

Before architects start working on designs for the new library to be built on SOM Center Road, they sought public input at an open house.

At the session, which was held Saturday afternoon at the Cuyahoga County Public Library Mayfield Branch, representatives from architectural firm URS and consultant Holzheimer Bolek and Meehan Architects presented pictures of various buildings and scenes to gauge reaction.

Library patrons were given stickers to tag photos, with red for elements and designs they didn't like and green for the ones they favored.

"They are pictures of other libraries and different things around the country," said Renee Moldovansky of Holzheimer Bolek and Meehan Architects, which has worked on more than 200 library projects, including libraries in Euclid and Hudson.

Bill Mason, lead architect with URS, said it's important to involve the public in the design process.

"As a public library, it's a different kind of equation than with an academic library in how connected they are to the communities they serve," Mason said. "There's not a standard solution that you play out."

Visitors favored designs that incorporated the outdoors, which was something already being planned considering the surroundings at the new location, which will be connected to a nature trail.

"That's a big winner," said Tina Belz, project manager with URS. "People want to bring the outdoors in."

Penny Shelby of Lyndhurst said she was all for incorporating as much of nature as possible into the new library, "But not let it be the focus and you're spending all of your dollars on that."

Creating a warm atmosphere was important to Heidi, a Mayfield Heights resident. "Some of these are cold. I want somewhere inviting where I can bring homework to study. Something that's warm, inviting. Where I want to take a book and sit down."

Mason said that although designers don't know the reasons why visitors voted the way they did, the results matched what architects were told at sessions with library staff and the Friends of Mayfield Library group.

One thing certain to be part of the new library will be more space for meetings, a problem at the Mayfield Branch, as some classes have to be moved to the Richmond Heights Branch because of lack of space. Also, the library will be one floor because the county system no longer builds two-story facilities, said Aaron Schlesinger, manager of adult services at the Mayfield Branch.