Addition planned for community library
By KATHY FERGUSON
Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005  |
SEMINOLE – The foundation has been laid for another addition to the Dennis L. Jones Seminole Community Library at St. Petersburg College Seminole campus.
According to Susan Reiter, the college’s director of facilities planning, the new wing will house a 5,000-foot modular-type building that will include the capability for four rooms or open up into one large conference center.
“We have found a need for more classroom space,” Reiter said.
The new wing is located between the library and the college’s new dental building opened only a few months ago. Currently, a chain link fence surrounds the area with groundwork preparation under way.
The building, accessible from inside and outside the current library, will be built with a “flexible and multifunctional” plan said Reiter.
It may also be used for community events, and some staff office space is planned.
A small glitch has been hit in that the facilities planning team is looking more closely at construction costs that could end up being a few million dollars.
“Although we have started building the foundation, we are performing value engineering work to better reevaluate the construction costs,” said Reiter.
The costs of concrete and other building materials are causing the project costs to escalate. She said the project would be re-bid soon.
While much of the project remains on the drawing board, Reiter hopes the new conference center will open in the fall.
Overall, the 50,000 square foot, $7.6 million joint-use library opened to rave reviews in August 2003. Amenities include five classrooms with multiple room configurations, nine conference and study rooms, a children’s area, teen zone, cafe and art gallery.
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Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005
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