Public forum planned for new Tufts Library, March 22
Weymouth, MA – Mayor Robert Hedlund announced today that the Town of Weymouth’s Library Construction Committee will host a public forum to present updated design schemes for the new Tufts Library. The public forum will take place Thursday, March 22nd, at 7:00 pm in the Abigail Adams Middle School auditorium at 89 Middle Street. Tappé Architects of Boston will present the design concepts, and residents will be given the opportunity to share comments and ask questions. This public forum will be recorded and made available for viewing online after the meeting at http://weymouth.tv/.
“We want the new Tufts Library to be a center of opportunity for people of all ages and abilities. Today’s libraries are go-to community destinations, and that’s what the new Tufts Library should be,” said Mayor Robert Hedlund. “I encourage all residents to share their thoughts on the updated design ideas. Tell us what you think so we can design a library that has something for everyone.”
A preliminary schematic design was prepared for the Tufts Library as part of the Town’s Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) application in 2017. The Town has hired Tappé Architects (Tappé) to refine this design and propose updated concepts for the building’s interior layout and exterior architecture, consistent with the library’s Building Program. The new program calls for demolition of the existing library, now more than 50 years old, and construction of a new building with an additional 17,000 square feet. Improvements to the library will include an expanded children’s department, a new local history center, a variety of study rooms and programming areas for different age groups, a comprehensive and scalable technology infrastructure, and a suite of public meeting rooms available for after-hours use.
Tappé was hired as project designer in March of 2018, and will provide the architectural, engineering, and other professional services required to prepare and bid the $33 million public library project. Tappé has designed, planned, and facilitated over 90 public, private, and academic libraries over the last 37 years. The firm is nationally recognized for its up-to-date understanding of trends and requirements in library design, and has extensive experience in inserting new facilities into existing traditional contexts.