Library construction ahead of schedule

The contractor has projected completion about 40 days earlier than the original contracted substantial completion date for the Downtown Library, said Peter Renner, facilities director for the City of Renton.

February 27, 2015 2:54 pm
The Renton library over the Cedar River has made significant progress toward its completion and is scheduled to open this summer.
The Renton library over the Cedar River has made significant progress toward its completion and is scheduled to open this summer.

Thanks to some time-saving tactics by the contractor, the construction for both the Downtown Renton Library and the Highlands Library are moving ahead of schedule.

Construction Enterprises & Contractors has been able to trim some days off the schedules of both libraries. The contractor has projected completion about 40 days earlier than the original contracted substantial completion date for the Downtown Library, said Peter Renner, facilities director for the City of Renton.

“However, both of the schedules are subject to change for a variety of reasons and the saved time might be lost later, or it might be improved upon,” Renner said. “It’s just too early to say.  But we are very pleased with the way the contractor has worked creatively with the subcontractors, the City inspectors, and the construction committee to keep things moving apace.”

Soon the Downtown Library will have the storefront assemblies in place, which is the glass and the framing that holds the doors and windows in place. This will fully enclose the interior and much of the mechanical work is complete.

Design features have all been decided upon for the new downtown library location. They include a new floor to ceiling glazed curtainwall, to let in more natural light and create more views of the river.

There will be a new metal canopy at the entire perimeter of the building and it will provide solar protection. A new large meeting and multipurpose room is planned, with natural light, sliding panel doors, blackout shades and storage space.

Additionally, there will be three smaller meeting or study rooms planned. There have also been significant structural, mechanical and thermal conservation features and upgrades included in the design to meet current building codes and for better energy efficiency.

The library’s total budget is $10.4 million and the project reduces the size of the library from 22,00 square feet to 19,680 square feet. The beloved pedestrian bridge will remain in place and is still closed during construction.

The Highlands Library’s parking level and floor of the library are complete and the exterior concrete walls were poured last week. Next the steel structure will go into place. The work is now high enough out of the ground to be visible from Sunset Boulevard.

The Highlands Library calls for a 15,000-square-foot-library to be built at Sunset Avenue and Harrington Avenue Northeast. It will also feature a one-story underground garage, located directly underneath the new building. The Highlands Library project is part of the Sunset Terrace redevelopment project, of which it is an anchor. The budget for the Highlands Library is up to $10 million.

It is still too early for specifics, said Renner, but the Downtown Library is projected to open late this summer and the Highlands Library in late fall.