Innovative, high-tech Clinton library rises
Posted on 01/11/2003 3:50:36 PM PST by MeekOneGOP
Innovative, high-tech Clinton library rises
Resembling a glass bridge, it's the largest presidential repository
01/12/2003
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Tom Jones has worked on some complex projects - the CNN Center and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Complex in Atlanta, for example.
But the Clinton Presidential Center going up on the bank of the Arkansas River in Little Rock is the most high-tech and innovative, he says.
"It's an experience as well as an adventure," Mr. Jones said last week.
As construction foreman, Mr. Jones of Atlanta supervises every aspect of the library's construction - from cement to cantilevers to completion. He works long hours and manages a crew of about 50. That number will increase, Mr. Jones said, as the $160 million library takes shape.
The library will resemble a glass bridge in its design, reflecting Mr. Clinton's presidential pledge to build a bridge to the 21st century.
Like all presidential libraries, it will hold official papers from the eight-year Clinton administration. The Clinton collection includes more than 77 million documents, 75,000 artifacts, 1.8 million photographs, and 40 million e-mail messages. It's the largest and most expensive presidential library to date.
The innovation comes from the library's "green" program. When Mr. Clinton decided on plans for his glass library, he insisted the design be environmentally friendly. That means energy-saving lights, solar panels and a roof that conserves energy.
But the library and museum must also meet federal guidelines because the contents are overseen by the National Archives in Washington, D.C. That department oversees the archives part of the library.
"They have to sign off on everything," said Skip Rutherford, executive director of the Clinton Presidential Foundation.
With an all-glass building and innovative cooling and heating system in the floor, the designers still have to make sure the archives are maintained with a certain temperature control. The all-glass structure also has to be evaluated and tested for ultraviolet light protection in order to protect the historical documents.
Staying on track
So far, everything is on track for a glitzy November 2004 opening, Mr. Jones said. Extensive preliminary planning and comprehensive studies by architects, designers and Mr. Clinton keep it on track, he said. The foundation paid the final installment last month on the $185,000 building permit, the largest in the city's history.
"Downtown Little Rock is bustling, and a major part of that is because of the library project," said Bruce Moore, Little Rock's city manager. And, he said, "a lot of the downtown business is spreading throughout the city and even across the river."
The library site sits on 28 acres on the edge of the Arkansas River near Interstate 30. It and an adjoining city park will replace an industrial site of old warehouses and vacant space as part of the revitalized riverfront, which includes the River Market District on President Clinton Avenue. Across the river sits North Little Rock, which is seeing its own riverfront boom.
Leading into the library site will be Celebration Circle lined with brick pavers bought by library supporters for $35 each. Mr. Rutherford said about 8,000 pavers have been sold.
The park will also contain an amphitheater, playground and bike trails.
Renovation of the historic Choctaw Station, built in 1899 in the middle of what is now the library site, will begin in June. That building will house the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, a master's degree program, the Clinton Public Policy Institute and the Clinton Presidential Foundation.
Clinton may teach
Mr. Rutherford said Mr. Clinton might teach some of the classes when he is in the city, possibly as often as once a month. Mr. Clinton, who was governor of Arkansas for 12 years before being elected president in 1992, lives in New York but will have a penthouse on top of the library.
The proximity to a major interstate traveled by more than 36 million cars each year serves the library well, Mr. Rutherford said. Every one of the people in those cars is a possible tourist for the library, he said.
"We want this to be a place for researchers, academics and journalists to come, but we also want to attract families who are interested in history and culture," Mr. Rutherford said. "This is a new kind of presidential library.
"We want it to be a destination place."
Two run-down interstate motels within blocks of the library recently were sold to national chains. The new Holiday Inn will be called the Holiday Inn Presidential Conference Center and is scheduled to open in early February. Last month, Witt Properties of Fort Smith, Ark., bought the former Masters Inn, on the same side of the interstate as the library. It will become a Comfort Inn.
And, as testament to the strong feelings still generated by the former president, there's even a "Counter Clinton Library" planned by a group of his critics.
City officials say that no land has been bought for the counterlibrary, but the critics have started soliciting donations on their Web site, www.newsmax.com.
"We are deadly serious about building a permanent structure to counter the continual lies and distortions coming from both Clintons," said John LeBoutillier, a former Republican congressman from New York involved in the project.
Mr. Rutherford is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to luring tourists. He met this week with convention and tourism officials in Memphis. The Clinton Foundation would like to see a strong connection between the two cities for two reasons, he said.
Comparison to Elvis
First, some cultural critics have compared Mr. Clinton to Memphis' Elvis Presley. The former president has an array of Elvis memorabilia that will be part of the library.
Second, Mr. Clinton wants his library to have as a theme racial reconciliation, and Memphis is known for its National Civil Rights Museum.
But Mr. Rutherford isn't stopping with Memphis. He said he plans to visit Dallas tourism officials in the near future, as well as officials in Oxford, Miss., and Nashville, Tenn.
He said a large part of his day is spent dealing with convention groups and tour bus operators who call wanting to set up events in 2005.
"I'm already thinking about how many forks and knives we should have to deal with these groups," Mr. Rutherford said. "They will call wanting to know if they can book a part of the library on a certain date that is two years away.
"It all takes a lot of juggling and planning."
The foundation also plans to renovate the river's Rock Island Bridge, which connects to the library land, by making it 15 feet wider and creating a lighted pedestrian walkway over the river. Plans call for the former railroad bridge to feature benches, awnings and portable kiosks for merchants. That could open in late 2003, Mr. Rutherford said.
"I am not sure if people in Little Rock understand how big this project is," said Mr. Jones. "I've been around a long time in this business, and I can already see what this project is doing for downtown. I can see the whole picture, and I already envision a lot of great things coming out of this building."
Suzi Parker is a free-lance writer based in Little Rock.
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy. 
And Hillary is a three-headed dog.
Wanna get up a pool as to how long it takes for it to become commonly known as 'Monica'?
And a Penthouse inside the library.
I thought that was the oval office sink.
The Manson family, the Gambino family. . . .
Reading the article I got that impression as well...
Make sure you have enough spoons for Bill and his brother Roger.
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