Both new buildings - a fire station and a library - will be located in the West End, which is actively being built up with expensive housing, often to the detriment of the interests of local residents. Therefore, the transfer by the authorities of these two state-owned properties to the commercial developer Eastbanc has raised public apprehension. But the developers were attentive to the situation and held - together with the architects - numerous meetings with the townspeople (in the case of the library, there were as many as 60).
As a result, not only residential buildings were added to both buildings (a 5-storey building of affordable housing was added to the fire department, a condominium for 174 apartments was added to the library), but also infrastructure facilities of interest to residents. The library includes a coffee shop, shops and parking in its complex, a fire station is combined with a squash court.
The facades of both buildings are made of energy efficient glass; the volume of the fire station is made bright red, and the library is closed from the outside with sun screens, and also received a green roof and a waste water treatment system.
N. F.
