By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
GREATER Dandenong’s new library will not be just the domain of bookworms.
A media tour of its new digs last week revealed “teen media” booths for gamers, a luminous lime “genius bar” staffed by an IT expert, a music-listening corner with headset ports, and lots of wide comfy space for cyber and paper browsing.
There will be free public Wi-Fi. And yes, visitors will be able to eat cake and sip coffee inside.
It’s the quintessence of a ‘Generation Next’ library – which, with a vast civic plaza of alfresco dining, shops and a giant video screen, is expected to attract more people into Dandenong.
The $65 million complex, which is running under budget, has a 500-seat council chamber that can be converted into a community function room.
There are also council offices and meeting spaces, many of which have supreme views of the city.
The 13,000 square-metre set-up is set to open on 17 March and the council intends it to last 100 years.
Like the building’s outside, there’s bright splashes of burgundy, mustard yellow and lime colour within, replete with deep dark timbers and tall windows to let in natural light.
There is lots of deep red in the library, yellow in the council chambers and some green in the staff kitchenettes.
There are opportunities for private enterprise – eight café/retail spaces skirting the building and upper-deck office space with panoramic views of Lonsdale Street open for private lease.
The building achieved a five-star green-star sustainability rating.
It is electricity-neutral – fully offsetting its grid energy intake with power generated by a convection plant at Settlers Square.
The council has also introduced a green travel plan to encourage council staff in the building to travel anyhow but by car.
Mr Rendell said the council had not yet decided how many of the building’s 40 on-site car parks will be provided to the public.
A state-of-the-art disability toilet features a remote-controlled gantry hoist, adult change-table, shower and an assisted toilet with grab handles that allows carers to support people with severe disabilities.
To surmount the site’s steep aspect, a public lift from Lonsdale Street to the library’s ground level will be accessible 24-7.
The library is double the size of the cramped Stuart Street premises, yet employs the same number of librarians.
It is fitted with self-checkouts throughout its multi-storey site and a robotic book sorter that miraculously organises the library’s collections in front of the public.
This building, lightly dubbed the south east’s Federation Square, still lacks a name.
Whatever it’s called, get excited! This is a hub for the ages.
