News Release

San Francisco - The architectural firm of Leddy Maytum Stacy has been selected to design the renovations of the North Beach Branch Library, located at 2000 Mason Street, at Columbus. Leddy Maytum Stacy is an award-winning architectural firm with experience in adapting and renovating historic buildings, as well as a national reputation for the design of healthy, sustainable environments.

The North Beach Library design team will be headed by Marsha Maytum, Principal, acting as lead designer, along with Senior Associate Roberto Sheinberg, who will be the co-lead designer and project architect for this important project.

Projects designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects include the Thoreau Center for Sustainability, Presidio of San Francisco; The Thornton Center for Engineering Management, Stanford University; The Koret Education Center, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito; and many others.

Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects also has a strong history of working with both their clients and the community to design projects that meet the needs of all, which fits in with the goals of City Librarian Susan Hildreth. "We're working closely with the Recreation and Park Department to see that our renovation and expansion complements the improvements to the adjacent park facilities," said Hildreth. "We're looking forward to discussing alternative plans with neighbors and users and soliciting input from the many active community organizations in the area."

In November 2000, San Francisco voters approved the Branch Library Improvement Program, which will renovate nineteen branch libraries and build five new libraries. The North Beach Branch Library is a seismic three building on a scale of one to four, making it vulnerable to damage in a major earthquake, and therefore will be renovated in Phase 2 of the renovations, following the seismic four branches. Designed by Appleton & Wolford Architects, it is an example of the Modern movement in architecture. The library, constructed of brick masonry and glass, was built in 1959.

Renovations of the North Beach Branch Library will seismically upgrade the building, make it disabled accessible, and expand it by approximately 500-1000 square feet. Full accessibility requires construction of an elevator. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2005, with the branch reopening in early 2007.

In November 2002, Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects was one of five architectural firms selected for design services for renovation projects in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Branch Library Improvement Program. Twenty-three firms in all responded to the Request for Qualifications issued in July 2002. Other libraries which will be renovated in the first two phases of the bond program include Excelsior, Marina, Noe Valley, Parkside, Richmond, Sunset and West Portal.

All programs and exhibitions at the Library are free of charge and open to the public.

For more information about the Branch Library Improvement Bond, call the office of the Bond Program Manager, (415) 557-4354.