Stephanie Strange Sculpture

Stephanie Strange, Bastrop Artist, has a new piece of sculpture installed in a new library in Austin.  Maybe you can check out the opening.  Stephanie shares studio space across the street from my studio/gallery in Bastrop.  Congratulations to Stephanie.
 

You are invited for the Grand Opening of the new Twin Oaks Branch, 1800 S. Fifth Street, on Saturday, August 21 at 10:00 a.m. for a building dedication ceremony, the unveiling of the hanging sculpture titled Black Well by local artist Stephanie Strange, live music by the swinging Academy of Jazz Players, and abundant food and drink from local South Austin vendors. Bring the young ones out to enjoy a magic act and face painting f...un!

The new Twin Oaks Branch, located at the corner of South Fifth Street and West Mary Street, was built to replace the former Twin Oaks Branch which was located in a lease space since its inception in 1956. Since 1992, the Branch had been in a 5,360 square foot storefront space in the Twin Oaks Shopping Center located near the intersection of South Congress Avenue and Oltorf Street. In the 1998 City of Austin General Obligation Bond Election voters approved the funding to build a permanent 10,000 square foot branch to serve this area of the city. The new Twin Oaks Branch will operate as a “library for the future”, patterned after a popular new design model for community libraries which incorporates many features found in upscale bookstores.

This new and sustainable Branch, designed by Hatch + Ulland Owen Architects and built by Jamail & Smith Construction, is equipped with a rainwater harvesting system as well as a day lighting control system that dims electric lamps when the building has sufficient daylight for reading and other activities. It also features a 25.2 kW solar energy system that is expected to generate some 32,760 kWh annually (power sufficient for about three standard sized homes). Additionally, reused bricks salvaged during the demolition of the old South Austin Post Office building which formerly stood on the site were used for construction. The building also includes 15 huge timber trusses made of reclaimed Douglas Fir which saved about 30 large trees.

Bring the whole family out to see these green building concepts, enjoy some refreshments, and browse the stacks of your new neighborhood library! The new Twin Oaks Grand opening is free and open to the public. For more information please call 512-974-7400 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.