Southfield Public Library - Architecture & Art

Architecture & Art

Building Area: Total Building Size: 127,000 gross square feet; three levels; Height of Glass Tower: 65 feet (20 m).

Architectural Features and Materials:

• Glass Tower with "Floating" Boardroom
• Generations Tower
• Terrazzo Floors, Pewabic Tile Fireplace, Wood Paneling
• Monumental Public Circulation Stairway
• 1,004.5 Tons of Steel
• 200,000 Bricks
• 492 Tons of Limestone
• 30,100 Square Feet of Glass
• 320,000 Linear Feet of Electrical Wiring
• 5500 Linear Feet of Water Piping
• 8000 Linear Feet of Sanitary and Storm Plumbing

Building Amenities:

• Fireplaces on Every Level
• Imaginarium Garden
• Readers’ Tree House
• Storybook Castle with Book Throne and Dragon
• Space Station Program Room
• Club Q&A
• Southfield History Room
• Two Computer Training Labs
• Small Group Meeting Rooms on Every Level
• Auditorium and Large Meeting Room
• Café with Indoor Seating and an Outdoor Fountain Terrace
• Second Level Observation Deck
• Drive-up Service Window
• Dedicated Friends Used Book Store Spaces

Permanent Art Collection

First Level: Tower Lobby: Mark Twain Bench by Gary Lee Price Studios, Two Bears, bronze sculpture by Marshall Fredericks

First Level: Imaginarium Garden: Journeys of the Imagination by Gary Lee Price Studios, Seasons of the Imagination, tiles by Laurie Eisenhardt, Birdhouses from Maine by Naturally Wood, Book sculpture and Butterfly Bench

First Level: Circulation Lobby Wind Blowing by Jerry Pinkney, Sophie and Rose by Wendy Anderson Halperin, Bedtime Stories by Jane Dyer, Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea by Floyd Cooper, The Voyage Begins by Anthony Bacon Venti

First Level: Youth Floor: Cat in the Hat by David McKnight, Emerald City Designs; Dr. Seuss sculptures:The Tufted Gustard, Two Horned Drouberhannis, Andulovian Grackler, Blue-Green Abelard, Seuss Sawfish, Mulberry Street Unicorn, Semi-Normal Green Lidded Fawn, Flaming Herring, Carbonic Walrus, Gimlet Fish, Sea Going Dilemma Fish, Powerless Puffer and Sludge Tarpon.; Dr. Seuss prints: Singing Cats; Oh, the Places You’ll Go; Fox in Socks; A Plethora of Fish; Oh, The Stuff You Will Learn

Second Level: Quiet Study Room: Book Quilt by the staff of the Southfield Public Library

Third Level: Administration Office: Twist Sculpture by Rollin Karg Glass Studio, Les Fleurs de Babylone Art Quilt by Joy Saville, Transformation Art Glass by Janet Kelman, Still Water Reflections Fiber Wall Piece by Tim Harding