William J. Clinton Presidential Library
The William J. Clinton Presidential Library is located on the grounds of the William J. Clinton Presidential Center in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas. The Library, dedicated in November 2004, is the 11th in the National Archives and Records Administration Presidential Library system.
The Clinton Library, 420 feet in length, cantilevers out towards the Arkansas River, evoking a favorite phrase from Clinton's campaigns in which he often spoke of building a bridge to the twenty-first century. Said the former president at the Clinton Presidential Center dedication ceremony: "What it is to me is the symbol of not only what I tried to do, but what I want to do with the rest of my life: building bridges from yesterday to tomorrow, building bridges across racial and religious and ethnic and income and political divides - building bridges."
The library is a glass and steel modernist structure designed by James Polshek and Richard Olcott. "The President wanted a building that was both grand and accessible," said Polshek. Clinton also wanted a green building that met LEED certification standards. Polshek Partnership originally sited the Library in parallel with the Arkansas River bank. Later, they rotated the building ninety degrees to take advantage of a spectacular view of downtown Little Rock, which includes views of six other bridges across the river.
Local architectural firms that worked on the Clinton Library included Polk Stanley Yeary Architects, Witsell Evans Rasco, Architects and Planners, and Woods & Carradine Architects.
The Economist magazine critized the Library as an example of "trailer home chic," to which the former president responded at a Greater Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce luncheon: "I guess that's just me, a little bit of red and a little bit of blue," referring to his roots in red-state Arkansas and adopted blue-state New York.
Structural elements
By far the most popular attraction is the Clinton Library museum exhibits area. Gigantic cherry bookcases housing part of the Clinton papers frame 240 feet of museum space found on the main and upper levels. The bookcases are modeled after those Clinton admired in the Long Room of Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland. Clinton visited the library while studying as a Rhodes Scholar. Oversize interactive displays designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates stand at angles in the center of the exhibit space.
The Clinton Library Great Hall and Terrace is located on the south end of the Clinton Library. The Great Hall can seat 400 people for banquets or concert performances.
The Clinton Library apartment is a 5,000 square foot glass-walled "executive suite" located atop the structure. The apartment has been compared to Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House. Kaki Hockersmith designed the interior space of the apartment.
The Belly is a seven foot tall mechanical and electrical space hanging beneath the main floor of the Clinton Library. Polshek refers to this area of the Library as "the belly of the whale."
References
- Alan G. Brake, "Building Bridges," Architecture 94.2 (February 2005): 36-39.
- Allison Keyes, "Profile: Opening of Clinton Presidential Library," National Public Radio: Tavis Smiley Show, November 19, 2004.
- "Trailer-Home Chic; Elvis, Bono, Café 42: Steel Yourself," The Economist, November 13, 2004.
