Board signs contract for library construction

CAMDEN — The board members of the Public Library of Camden and Ouachita County approved the signing of a contract for the construction of a new library building.

The library burned down on July 4, 2011. The fire was said to have started from a a faulty piece of office equipment. Since the fire, the library has been operating in the Garden Oaks Shopping Center.

The library board has been working with Jeffrey A. Scherer of Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle, LTD, and John Allison and Chris Hartsfield of Allison Architects, to design the new library building. The architects held public meetings in 2012 to get the public’s input on the design and location of the new library.

The board purchased the Fooks Garden property, located near the Ouachita Valley Family Clinic, for the future site of the new library. Board members then waited to take bids for the construction of the building.

In September 2013, the board accepted the bid of CWR Construction for $2,323,270. The company’s bid was the second lowest bid the board received.

During the Thursday meeting, Lisa Pickett, executive director of the library board, presented board members with the contract from Allison Architects for construction of the new building. The members looked at the drawings the architects gave Pickett to go with the contract to get an idea of what the building will look like. Pickett told the board there were changes to the original renderings because the bid was still over the new building budget of $2,195,033.

The following are changes to the original building design:

• Changing the geothermal system to a high efficiency HVAC system that will be placed outside. Originally, the unit was going to be housed inside the building. But by moving the unit outside, contractors will be able to deduct 800 square feet from the structure — saving $200,000. The building also lost about 800 square feet because the unit that was originally proposed will not need a mechanical room inside the building.

• Changes in the electrical fixtures to be used.

• Changing the glass to be used in the front of the building, but still using energy-efficient materials. This saved around $8,000.

• Changes to the roofing and plumbing materials used — saving $18,000.

• Changes to the concrete, insulation membrane, blinds, steel structure, painting, bricking,

and laminate beams.

• Changes to the window seals and door pulls, which saves $8,000.

The total changes equaled $370,875, according to Pickett. She said the architects and engineers are comfortable with the changes made and are ready to start building.

Library board members suggested that board presi- dent Christy Carr — who is also a lawyer in Camden — look over the contract and then Pickett will sign after Carr gives it satisfactory approval. The contract stated that the construction company will have one year to finish the day they are told to proceed.

Board members are planning a ground breaking ceremony to be held soon after the final contracts have been signed.