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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 f4