Terms such as “curtain wall,” “solar chimney” and “urban screen” aren’t typically associated with libraries.
But they will become more familiar in Maine this spring, as the main branch of the Portland Public Library gets a glass-faced, audiovisual makeover aimed at attracting people to a building that is sometimes seen as sterile and uninviting.
Contractors are finalizing plans for enclosing the Monument Square facade and entrance in an expansive, metal-and-glass wall that will house a cafe, as well as library services. A 75-foot-tall glass tower near the entrance, dubbed a solar chimney, will warm air for the heating system on sunny days and trim fuel bills.
But the most striking feature may be the 30-foot-wide urban screen, which will broadcast video and audio feeds onto Monument Square. The outdoor video display will be the first of its kind in Maine, designers say, and is thought to be the first to be installed on any library in the country.
Curtain Wall is not a new term in libraries
Essentially any wall that does not support external load, ie support the weight of an exterior wall or the roof is a curtain wall. This term has been around forever and is a common type of wall in any library or for that matter many homes. Solar Chimney seems just like a glass facade so I’m not sure that is anything new to libraries. I figure it’s had different less cool names. Urban Screen, that seems exciting enough. Though excitement over the term curtain wall just confounds me.
Bunker
What I don’t get is what the original architect was thinking.
“What you want in a library is a bunker. You want a building that would look good as a fortification.”
typically associated
Terms such as “curtain wall,” “solar chimney” and “urban screen” aren’t typically associated with libraries. What is typically associated with libraries: bunkers
What was the original architect thinking
It is not a pretty building, but somewhere I’m sure is a building committee that thinks it’s the best building ever built.
It Kind of Doesn’t Match….
In regards to the current building…it kind of doesn’t match the surrounding buildings and rather sticks out like a sore thumb, but it is what is called “progress”. Not to mention, there is no sign indicating that this is even a library…
Hopefully the new glass addition will make the building more attractive.
Container gardens would have been another nice addition to the building, especially on what looks to be an outdoor terrace.
>^..^<