By Jondi Gumz
The design of the new Aptos library —mindful of the community’s heritage in lumber, fishing and apples, got positive reviews from people who attended a virtual open house last week.
One side of the new Aptos library design, showing the patio for the community room.
“We are so impressed,” said John Hibble of the Aptos Chamber of Commerce. “We can’t wait.”
The new library at the same location, 7695 Soquel Drive, will be 50 percent bigger — 12,400 square feet instead of 8,000 square feet.
Architect Mark Schoeman of Anderson-Brulé Architects said the tall glass windows surrounded by wood 22-23 feet high would create an iconic corner.
The building will be shorter in the back and 20 feet from the residential neighbors, gated for security, Schoeman said.
The iconic corner at Soquel Drive and Ledyard Way for the new Aptos library branch.
To take advantage of the sun., the building will be angled on the property, which intersects with Ledyard Way. Solar panels on the rear roof will produce all the energy needed on site, but won’t be seen from the street, Schoeman said.
Architect Angshupriya Pathak pointed out how the driveway will be relocated away from the bus stop to protect people on foot.
There will be more parking spaces, 73, up from 69 now, with electric vehicle charging and a book off drop-off in the parking lot.
Inside, visitors will be greeted by library staff.
“I really like the staff space,” said librarian Heather Pereira.
The new driveway for the Aptos library is designed to avoid conflicts with the bus stop and people on foot or using wheelchairs.
The building is divided into quadrants. The children’s section with the storytime corner will be on the left and the community room with a patio that can be opened for events will be on the right.
“There is a view of the ocean when you step outside on the patio,” Pereira said.
The adult section is behind the children’s section and teen area with a maker space is behind the community room.
Each area will open onto a garden patio.
“I love the separate gardens,” one viewer said.
Pamela Anderson-Brulé, founder and president of Anderson-Brulé, said her goal was to create a warm and welcoming space, foster human connection and celebrate natural resources from the forest to the ocean.
The entryway design for the new Aptos library.
Thus, the ceiling has wood beams and the color scheme includes greens, blues and earth tones.
“We tried to pick colors different from the other libraries,” said Susan Nemitz, who heads the Santa Cruz Public Libraries system, which is undertaking revamps at branches around the county with $67 million bond voters approved in 2016.
It was suggested the teen furniture be easy to move to accommodate various groupings.
Duly noted, Anderson–Brulé said, adding that the furniture hasn’t ben selected yet.
Hibble, who started the Aptos History Museum, said he’s excited about being able to display artifacts at the new library.
Library staff with concerns about cleanup of kids’ projects asked about alternatives to carpet, which was chosen for acoustical reasons.
Nemitz said one solution may be to put carpet in the book stacks.
Images by Anderson-Brulé Architects