Our Approach to Library Projects (cont.)

Project Initiation

We have developed a project initiation format that establishes a collaborative atmosphere at the onset and helps to maintain that partnership for the project's duration.

We begin with an intensive kickoff workshop involving all team members. During this meeting, the overall goals for the project are identified and agreed upon. Those are then posted at every subsequent meeting to keep the entire team focused on meeting those objectives.

We also use the kickoff meeting to discuss the implementation of the project, define roles and responsibilities, and agree on critical deadlines.

FFA works closely with library staff, citizens, and Friends of the Library groups to identify and prioritize the programs that serve the community and design spaces to support those programs.

For example, at Multnomah County Central Library we established a design theme for the building ("The Garden of Knowledge") and integrated that theme throughout the building. Carpets, light fixtures, stair finishes, and public art works all contributed to this concept and, at the same time, were carefully designed to complement the historic character of the existing library.