From the Basement to the West WingThe Talking Book & Braille Service’s New Space

Lower level space

• Occupied for 20 years

• Housed most of talking books collection, tape duplication, recording studios, meeting room, computer training room, break room, storage

• After years of problems with being in the lower level, an alternative space became available on 1st floor of our building

Considerations for move

• Is the space large enough for stacks and rooms?

• Good location for building recording booths?

• What improvements could be made to improve the quality and efficiency of our work?

• Long range considerations

Lower Level space

New 1st floor space

Initial measurements

• Total square footage of lower level: 12, 845

• Total square footage of “West Wing” 7937

• Reduction of 4908 sq. ft.

• Shelving, lower level: 1713 linear ft.

• “West Wing” space for shelving: roughly 969 linear ft

• Time for careful measurements!

More planning

Working with designer

• After initial planning by hand, architectural firm Innerspace helped with formal design

• Three part planning: demolition, construction, moving

• Remodeling narrative details detailed elements of the work

Demolition plan

Construction plan

Systems to consider

• Data and telephone wiring and jacks

• Electrical needs

• HVAC needs

• Intercom system

• Plumbing for room remodeling

• Fire alarm

• Finishes: paint, carpet

Recording studios

• Due to the unique construction needs of studios, these were almost a project within a project

• Digital recording means more postproduction, review, navigation markup, and this means new workspaces

• Working with modular booth designs a good approach for quality and cost

Preliminary design

Final layout

• space has to work around a structural pillar

• Project must go through bidding process

The process begins

• Demolition takes place in summer and fall of 2014

• Several walls are removed to create larger spaces

• A set of offices is removed for recording booths

• A shower is converted into a small break room

• Training room made out of an office and server room

Recording booths arrive

HVAC and wiring above

Work in progress

Shelving installation

Books make the move

New studio technology

The new space

The “West Wing”

Front entry

Volunteer check-in

Studios and circulation

Offices

Mail processing

Cardinal Room

Duplication and Post

Kitchenette

Narrator booths

Producer booths

Review and Markup

Finished studios

Empty basement!

1st floor signage