Tom Hille’s Fall 2012 architectural design studio participated in the Sustainable
City Year Springfield Library project, and was tasked with developing schematic
designs for a proposed new public library for the City of Springfield.
To accommodate a growing population in Springfield, the city administration and
library identified a need to build a new building wholly dedicated to the purpose
of creating a civic space where all members of the community can have equal
access to high quality information and educational resources.
The design studio included 17 architecture students at both the graduate and
undergraduate level. Over the course of ten weeks (one academic term), they
individually proposed schematic designs for the library. The studio proposed
a contemporary vision of a community-oriented library that developed its civic
identity within a framework of sustainable design practices. Students explored
sustainable building practices that enhanced the civic agenda of the library’s
program, including rainwater harvesting in public space, daylighting in reading
rooms, increased diversity through mixed-use spaces, and access to alternative
forms of transportation.
Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.
Sustainable City Year Program Contact Info
Megan Banks
Sustainable City Year Program Manager
mbanks@uoregon.edu
(541) 346-6395
University Faculty Contact
Thomas Hille
Architecture
Local Government / Community Contact
Courtney Griesel
Economic Development Director
cgriesel@springfield-or.gov