The architectural and interior design planning process - Library Finance: New Needs, New Models

Library Trends, Wntr, 1994 by Elaine Cohen

Once the architect begins to work, an interior design firm may need to be retained. Many architectural firms can provide interior design, and some clients prefer to use them because it allows the librarian to deal with only one set of people. Other clients believe that it is better to use interior design firms because they are more knowledgeable about furniture, colors, and textures. After all, they concentrate their efforts in the field.

Just as architects have professional societies, such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA), so do interior designers. Their most well-known society is called the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and, similar to the AIA, it confers certification. ASID members know how to interface their work with that of the architect so that lighting falls over tables and carrels in the reading areas and hanging cabinets mount on walls that can bear their weight.

One of the first tasks any interiors person should perform is to test the building program within the building envelope - even if this task has already been performed by the architect or library consultant. All major pieces of furniture should be placed in the plan to make certain they fit. The test acts as a reality check. Does the program call for more shelving than the building can hold? Is there enough room for the workstations specified for the work areas? Once this is done, the designer can go about the business of space planning all the areas, designating which furniture requires lighting and telephones, electric receptacles, and data utility jacks; visiting the showrooms with the client; choosing the furniture - colors and textures - and ultimately creating a set of interior design contract documents.

For a library, the documents are typically divided into three - library technical furniture, shelving, and office furniture. Sometimes the first two are combined, but this limits the number of bidders. There are times, however, that furniture is not procured by bid but rather by state contract. Occasionally, one vendor will be given the entire job on a cost plus profit basis.

The following table provides sample furniture prices that were actually received for a court library. Unit prices are obtained so that different items can be added or deleted at will.

Conclusion

The foregoing price list does not indicate the time spent detailing furniture specifications: height, sizes, surface finishes, upholstery, edging, wire management, drawers, cabinets, and so on. Because the bidding process tends to be inexact and similar products of one manufacturer differ from another, the installation phase is fraught with a variety of potential problems. The winning bid's double face shelving may be outfitted with end panels that protrude an inch too far into each aisle. One range is lost for every six installed. This is the type of field condition that causes librarians stress. Where similar problems eventually solved by the architects or their engineers generally pass unnoticed, they occur with great fanfare here. Librarians understand the nuances of furniture, and it is just this understanding that can cause the greatest difficulties. The designer has several ways to deal with the situation. An obvious one is to reject the end panels and withhold payment. Another, perhaps more judicious, tactic is to see if the interior designer can redesign the area so that the dimensions are not critical.