As general contractor, Infinity completed all demolition, carpentry, and MEP on this project. Phase 1 was 53,000-sf renovation completing June 2007. Phase II was the 40,000-sf addition. World renowned New York Architect Robert A. M. Stern was the project designer. The addition includes a new two-story sky lit lobby at the building’s center. At the end of the main hall there is a grand stair with another skylight to bring natural light down to the main level. The main level includes a major expansion to children’s library. Upstairs are quiet reading rooms, and an 80-station technology center, along with a large audiovisual department to accommodate the library’s large collection of videos, CDs and DVDs. The original building’s MEP systems were entirely replaced by energy-efficient systems. The project was designed using LEED® certifiable principles, but did not seek formal certification.Project entailed a 44,000 SF addition as well as renovation of 48,000 SF of existing space.
One challenge of this project included how to tie in the new addition to the existing library in a seamless way and avoiding water intrusion. Infinity completed this work while the existing library remained occupied. We salvaged and re-used a significant amount of material from the old building including steel, concrete, stone and brick. A complex craft challenge was to extend the grand staircase in the older buidling to the new additon. This was accomplished using precast stone panels and the result is a seamless connection. We installed temporary walls around the staircase while completing the work to protect the public. The project is located on a very busy street that required a careful logistics plan both to control traffic and make deliveries of large construction materials. The project completed one month ahead of schedule, and on-budget, with no loss time accidents.
