A LIBRARY'S DEBT TO PRECEDENT

Ever since the early 1880s, when American industrialist Andrew Carnegie made small-town and neighborhood libraries a centerpiece of his philanthropic efforts, these buildings have reflected a community commitment to enduring quality and character. Next week writer Brian Libby will explain how the acclaimed Hillsdale Branch Library in Portland, by Thomas Hacker Architects, has taken cues not only from Carnegie, but also from Frank Lloyd Wright, Pietro Belluschi, and Louis Kahn.

DESIGNING FOR DECONSTRUCTION

The United States currently has a construction and demolition waste stream of about 136 million tons (123 million metric tons). About 92 percent of it goes into landfills. Meanwhile, other industrialized nations are doing better at recognizing the role of the architect in a culture of building construction that emphasizes the future harvesting of built resources. Next week writer Michael Cockram will present some ideas for designing new buildings to make their eventual disassembly more practical.