By snoadmin
The University Library’s contractor has delayed the construction deadline due to continuous alterations to the original plans in the architectural drawings. The $25 million renovation will “hopefully” be completed by the end of 2007, said project manager Joel Caytron.
The library’s construction was originally scheduled to last until November of this year. Construction started in the beginning of summer in 2006.
“It’s been a difficult renovation,” said Caytron, who works for the library’s contractor, Kemp Bros. Construction Inc. Caytron said there were changes in the project’s first phase that were unforeseen.
Caytron said the project’s blueprints had “hundreds of changes to the drawings” by the architects who made them. Caytron did not specify what caused the changes in the drawings that partially caused the delays, saying that all renovations are difficult.
He also could not estimate if the second and third phases will experience as much of a delay as much as the first one has. “It’s hard to say until we get to the upper floors,” Caytron said.
Regardless, the construction team has already “been issued some changes” for the other phases, Caytron said, which is why there is no longer a fixed date for the completion of construction for the University Library.
Another problem for the crews is working in a building that is still being occupied. Students, staff and workers must share the entire building until the renovation is over.
Construction from the first phase has been the most hectic for some library staff members and students. It was “terrible because the first floor was more noticeable,” said Gilbert Parra, a librarian of 15 years.
It was hectic enough to keep some students away from the library.
“I don’t come to the library as I used to,” said Carlos Contreras, a junior mathematics major. “It used to be a big mess with noise and stuff being blocked off.”
It can get “noisy by the tools,” said Danny Lee, a junior journalism major. “But I’m not usually bothered by it.” Lee said he has been to the library often throughout the remodeling process.
Phase Two was supposed to be completed this past May, but because of the delays is now barely under way.
Since March, the second and third floors of the library have been closed. Students who need a book or other materials on these floors need to request them through the library website’s COAST service.
In the final stage, Phase Three, the fourth and fifth floors will be closed off to the public. Students will need to request books from these floors via the library’s website during this time as well.
