HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-01-24-PBC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE
Minutes of Friday January 24 1997 Meeting joint with Cary Library
Building Committee in the library Oval Room, as approved by the
Permanent Building Committee on February 4, 1997
The meeting was called to order by Library Building Committee Chairman
Pierce at 3 13 p m with PBC Chairman Bruckman and other committee
members Poinelli , and Touart present Library Director Carol Mahoney,
Assistant Director Connie Rossen and staff member Julie Triessl also
were present Other members of the Library Building Committee present
included Sara Chase, Betty Eddison, Library Consultant Jay Lucker and
Chairman of the Library Board of Trustees , the Rev Peter Meek
Architects Stephen Hale, Melissa Bennett and and Oscar Milos as well as
structural engineer Len Brown presented the new library schematic plans
and answered questions
Malor Differences between former plans and current proposal are
insertion of a mezzanine level and a consequent reduction in the
building footprint , restoration of the front entrance with porch
extension, a change to the existing handicapped ramp entry on the
parking lot side of the building, and an increase of approximately 4,000
square feet of floor space (from 52 ,000 to 56,000 s f )
This will eliminate a State Library Board objection to long walking
distances within the building The structure will be strengthened to
accept the load of the additional floor, and the roof structure will be
modified to meet current seismic code requirements The project would
come under Article 32 of the State Building Code, for existing
buildings Requested that the architects produce a code analysis
including building type and fire zones
All levels of the library and its stacks will be handicapped accessible
via a new elevator that will be close to the ramp entrance Fiction
stacks will be on the lower level , as will be the new children's room
with its own entrance Also on the lower level with its own lobby,
entrance and restrooms, will be a meeting room that can be open after
hours without access to other parts of the library
The mezzanine level will contain administrative offices and adult non-
fiction Gallery space will be provided on the main floor where it now
exists and on the mezzanine outside the administrative offices as well
as in the meeting room lobby on the lower level
Exterior impact will be apparent mainly on the east and south sides and
the existing utility areas will remain in the under-roof area The
cooling tower will be removed A variance will be needed from the Board
of Appeals because the library parking lot is insufficient for the size
of the planned building Several in the room commented that people
using the library parking lot often visit other places in the center
beside the library
Proiect Schedule of 68 weeks of construction is predicted The library
will close at this time, with the East Lexington Branch and other
Minuteman Network libraries providing limited access to the library
collection Director Mahoney stated that she will seek temporary
PBC Minutes of 1/24/97 - Page 2
quarters for some of the library functions The schematic plans that
were shown at this meeting are currently available for inspection at the
library They will be submitted to the State Library Board the first
week in February (about a week hence) Judgment on the application will
come in May There appears to be good support for continued funding of
the state library program for another round The design phase town
meeting vote of 1996 still stands It is anticipated that bonding for
the project would be accomplished in fiscal year 1999
Meeting adjourned at 4 18 p m
Respectfully ay
submittted,
Erna S Greene, Secretary
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