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ABSTRACT
USING THE PLANNING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION of the Elmer L. Andersen Library as a case study, this article explores the variety of planning and design issues that must be addressed in the building process. The Andersen Library is unique for its site selection and for the successful joining of eight archives and special collection units in a single building. This exploration looks at how the internal library planning meshes with the architectural design process; how chance events can present innovative design opportunities; and how the political process can affect funding priorities and other realities.
INTRODUCTION
More than any project undertaken at the University of Minnesota, the building of the Elmer L. Andersen Library was believed by many to be a virtual impossibility. A complete description of all that went into the planning, funding, engineering, designing, and construction of the building that became the Elmer L. Andersen Library would far exceed any reasonable bounds. This article focuses on those issues central to these five aspects of this building's creation.
The planning challenged us because never at the University of Minnesota, or as far as we could tell anywhere in the world, had so many archives and special collections been brought together in a single building and combined with a high-density storage center. Securing state funding for the project was difficult. Explaining such an innovative idea in simple language was next to impossible. Elements of mined space engineering were all successfully used for many years in other building projects, but the combination of all these engineering techniques in a single building was unique. Even the construction process resulted in several engineering solutions being developed in the field while the building was under construction. This added to the novelty of the engineering and construction accomplishment.
This project represented a personal challenge as well. In my role as the Library Facilities Planner for the University of Minnesota Libraries, I coordinate the writing of the building program statement and serve as the principal liaison between the library planning group and the design team. My position also has responsibility for organizing the lobbying effort once a project is presented for funding. Finally, I am responsible for planning and executing the move into the facility. Despite all of these obstacles...