2007 News Archive

2008 NEWS ARCHIVE

03 DECEMBER 2008
Grand openings for two Group 4 projects in December
Two California communities will celebrate the grand openings of new community facilities by Group 4 this month:

The Elk Grove Library will hold its grand opening celebration on Saturday, December 6. An adaptive reuse of a former office building, the 16,000 sf Elk Grove Library targets Silver certification through the USGBC's LEED-CI program. The library is located at 8900 Elk Grove Boulevard in Elk Grove, California. For more information, click here. For video of the grand opening ceremony, click here.
The Roosevelt Community Center in San Jose will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, December 13. The 30,000 sf new center, which targets LEED Gold certification, features works by local and national artists as well as a variety of spaces for community members of all ages. The grand opening celebration will begin at 10 a.m. at the center at 901 East Santa Clara Street in San Jose. More information is available through the City's Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department at (408) 794-6203.

05 NOVEMBER 2008
Palo Alto community votes "Yes" for libraries
Congratulations to the City, Library, and community of Palo Alto on the passage of Measure N, which will appropriate funds for library construction. Measure N passed by a wide margin, with 69.5% of voters supporting the measure. The projects that will be able to move forward as a result of this measure include the new Mitchell Park Library and Community Center, renovation of the Downtown Library, and renovation/expansion of the Main Library.

25 SEPTEMBER 2008
Group 4 to present at CLA conference 2008
On November 14, Group 4 will lead a half-day program at the 2008 California Library Association conference in San Jose. Titled "Looking Up When Money is Down: Planning During Financially Challenging Times," the program will feature opportunities and strategies for designing the future of libraries through innovative planning today. Group 4 principals Wayne Gehrke, Dawn Merkes, and David Schnee will be joined by library futurist Joan Frye Williams, Contra Costa County Library Director Anne Cain, and Palo Alto Library Director Diane Jennings. Visit the CLA website for more information about the conference.

15 SEPTEMBER 2008
Cordelia Library wins design award
Group 4's Cordelia Library has been recognized by the City of Fairfield as an example of excellence in design as part of the City's biannual Design Award Program. Comprising the ground floor of a 30,000 square foot mixed-use facility, the Cordelia Library supports highly efficient operations as well as excellent customer service. Group 4 is proud to have had the opportunity to work with the City of Fairfield and the Solano County Library on this important project.

26 AUGUST 2008
New projects at Group 4
Group 4 has been awarded several exciting projects over the past month. In July, the City of Palo Alto, California commissioned Group 4 to develop the master plan for the former Los Altos Treatment Plant site, the future home for the City's new animal shelter and other much-needed municipal facilities. In August, the City of Shasta Lake, California selected Group 4 to develop a master plan for a range of facilities at its new civic center site. Most recently, the Pierce County (WA) Library System selected Group 4 to develop a systemwide capital facilities master plan. Group 4 is excited to work with each of these communities on these important projects!

30 MAY 2008
Ground breaks for new East Oakland library
Group 4 was pleased to join the East Oakland community, the Oakland Public Library, and the Oakland Unified School District in celebrating the groundbreaking milestone in the critically needed 81st Avenue Library project. Read a newspaper or listen to a radio account of the ceremony. The project is scheduled to open in late 2009.

12 MAY 2008
Design Institute a success
On May 9 2008, Group 4 joined five other architecture firms invited to participate in Design Institute West, sponsored by the Library Journal. Librarians and library supporters came from across the nation and around the world for a full day of presentations, panel discussions, and workshops focused on the topic of sustainability.

In the morning, principal Wayne Gehrke presented an overview of Group 4’s experience and approach to sustainable design, which encompasses community, culture, and economy as well as environment.
Principal David Schnee participated in a panel discussion titled, "Sustainable Design for Library – and a Community."
In the afternoon, principal Dawn Merkes led an interactive workshop focused on developing a program for a new joint-use library and senior/community center for the City of Azusa, California. Participants discussed opportunities for integrating the library and senior/community center programs in order to increase operational efficiency while increasing service to the community, as well as for developing an operational model that balances self-service measures with the community’s need for personalized staff assistance. Dawn and Group 4 associate Paul Jamtgaard presented the results of the workshop back to the reconvened larger group.

Response to the Design Institute was very positive, and participants left with many new ideas for “greening” their libraries even without building new. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

24 APRIL 2008
Group 4 projects win AIA design awards
Two Group 4 projects have received honors in the biennial awards program of the San Mateo County chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The renovated and expanded Pickleweed Park Community Center in San Rafael received a Citation Award. The new Washington Manor Branch Library in San Leandro received an Honor Award. Group 4 is honored to have had the opportunity to work with the San Rafael and San Leandro communities on these important projects.

27 MARCH 2008
Columbus Metropolitan Library selects Group 4 for 2020 Vision Plan
The nationally top-ranked Columbus Metropolitan Library has awarded Group 4 the contract to prepare its 2020 Vision Plan for Services and Facilities. The project will include vision planning, system design, and facility recommendations for the system's Main library and 20+ branches. The project will define how the library will physically adapt and transform to serve the needs of young minds, virtual users and power users. Other key members of the team include Joan Frye Williams, Page+Moris and Korda Nemeth Engineering.

17 MARCH 2008
Group 4 2008 ski trip a success
Friends and extended family joined us in March for a weekend of schussing and merriment at Lake Tahoe. We're already looking forward to another trip in 2009!

19 FEBRUARY 2008
Group 4 to present at Library Journal Design Institute West
Group 4 will be one of six featured architecture firms presenting at Design Institute West at the San Francisco Main Library on May 9, 2008. Sponsored by the Library Journal, the event will focus on sustainability in library design and operations. Librarians considering capital projects will have the opportunity to join architects and vendors for a full-day seminar discussing the latest developments, cost concerns, and cutting-edge solutions. Contact us for more information or visit the Library Journal's website at www.libraryjournal.com/diwest.


G4 News In The Press 2009 Archive 2008 Archive 2007 Archive	2008 NEWS ARCHIVE 03 DECEMBER 2008 Grand openings for two Group 4 projects in December Two California communities will celebrate the grand openings of new community facilities by Group 4 this month: The Elk Grove Library will hold its grand opening celebration on Saturday, December 6. An adaptive reuse of a former office building, the 16,000 sf Elk Grove Library targets Silver certification through the USGBC's LEED-CI program. The library is located at 8900 Elk Grove Boulevard in Elk Grove, California. For more information, click here. For video of the grand opening ceremony, click here. The Roosevelt Community Center in San Jose will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, December 13. The 30,000 sf new center, which targets LEED Gold certification, features works by local and national artists as well as a variety of spaces for community members of all ages. The grand opening celebration will begin at 10 a.m. at the center at 901 East Santa Clara Street in San Jose. More information is available through the City's Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department at (408) 794-6203. 05 NOVEMBER 2008 Palo Alto community votes "Yes" for libraries Congratulations to the City, Library, and community of Palo Alto on the passage of Measure N, which will appropriate funds for library construction. Measure N passed by a wide margin, with 69.5% of voters supporting the measure. The projects that will be able to move forward as a result of this measure include the new Mitchell Park Library and Community Center, renovation of the Downtown Library, and renovation/expansion of the Main Library. 25 SEPTEMBER 2008 Group 4 to present at CLA conference 2008 On November 14, Group 4 will lead a half-day program at the 2008 California Library Association conference in San Jose. Titled "Looking Up When Money is Down: Planning During Financially Challenging Times," the program will feature opportunities and strategies for designing the future of libraries through innovative planning today. Group 4 principals Wayne Gehrke, Dawn Merkes, and David Schnee will be joined by library futurist Joan Frye Williams, Contra Costa County Library Director Anne Cain, and Palo Alto Library Director Diane Jennings. Visit the CLA website for more information about the conference. 15 SEPTEMBER 2008 Cordelia Library wins design award Group 4's Cordelia Library has been recognized by the City of Fairfield as an example of excellence in design as part of the City's biannual Design Award Program. Comprising the ground floor of a 30,000 square foot mixed-use facility, the Cordelia Library supports highly efficient operations as well as excellent customer service. Group 4 is proud to have had the opportunity to work with the City of Fairfield and the Solano County Library on this important project. 26 AUGUST 2008 New projects at Group 4 Group 4 has been awarded several exciting projects over the past month. In July, the City of Palo Alto, California commissioned Group 4 to develop the master plan for the former Los Altos Treatment Plant site, the future home for the City's new animal shelter and other much-needed municipal facilities. In August, the City of Shasta Lake, California selected Group 4 to develop a master plan for a range of facilities at its new civic center site. Most recently, the Pierce County (WA) Library System selected Group 4 to develop a systemwide capital facilities master plan. Group 4 is excited to work with each of these communities on these important projects! 30 MAY 2008 Ground breaks for new East Oakland library Group 4 was pleased to join the East Oakland community, the Oakland Public Library, and the Oakland Unified School District in celebrating the groundbreaking milestone in the critically needed 81st Avenue Library project. Read a newspaper or listen to a radio account of the ceremony. The project is scheduled to open in late 2009. 12 MAY 2008 Design Institute a success On May 9 2008, Group 4 joined five other architecture firms invited to participate in Design Institute West, sponsored by the Library Journal. Librarians and library supporters came from across the nation and around the world for a full day of presentations, panel discussions, and workshops focused on the topic of sustainability. In the morning, principal Wayne Gehrke presented an overview of Group 4’s experience and approach to sustainable design, which encompasses community, culture, and economy as well as environment. Principal David Schnee participated in a panel discussion titled, "Sustainable Design for Library – and a Community." In the afternoon, principal Dawn Merkes led an interactive workshop focused on developing a program for a new joint-use library and senior/community center for the City of Azusa, California. Participants discussed opportunities for integrating the library and senior/community center programs in order to increase operational efficiency while increasing service to the community, as well as for developing an operational model that balances self-service measures with the community’s need for personalized staff assistance. Dawn and Group 4 associate Paul Jamtgaard presented the results of the workshop back to the reconvened larger group. Response to the Design Institute was very positive, and participants left with many new ideas for “greening” their libraries even without building new. Please feel free to contact us for more information. 24 APRIL 2008 Group 4 projects win AIA design awards Two Group 4 projects have received honors in the biennial awards program of the San Mateo County chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The renovated and expanded Pickleweed Park Community Center in San Rafael received a Citation Award. The new Washington Manor Branch Library in San Leandro received an Honor Award. Group 4 is honored to have had the opportunity to work with the San Rafael and San Leandro communities on these important projects. 27 MARCH 2008 Columbus Metropolitan Library selects Group 4 for 2020 Vision Plan The nationally top-ranked Columbus Metropolitan Library has awarded Group 4 the contract to prepare its 2020 Vision Plan for Services and Facilities. The project will include vision planning, system design, and facility recommendations for the system's Main library and 20+ branches. The project will define how the library will physically adapt and transform to serve the needs of young minds, virtual users and power users. Other key members of the team include Joan Frye Williams, Page+Moris and Korda Nemeth Engineering. 17 MARCH 2008 Group 4 2008 ski trip a success Friends and extended family joined us in March for a weekend of schussing and merriment at Lake Tahoe. We're already looking forward to another trip in 2009! 19 FEBRUARY 2008 Group 4 to present at Library Journal Design Institute West Group 4 will be one of six featured architecture firms presenting at Design Institute West at the San Francisco Main Library on May 9, 2008. Sponsored by the Library Journal, the event will focus on sustainability in library design and operations. Librarians considering capital projects will have the opportunity to join architects and vendors for a full-day seminar discussing the latest developments, cost concerns, and cutting-edge solutions. Contact us for more information or visit the Library Journal's website at www.libraryjournal.com/diwest.