Construction of the new main library
Stags1978 said:
I was wondering if the people working on the construction of the new library were being paid by the hour. Every time I drive by when they are working it doesn't seem like there are that many people on the work site. It just seems like it is taking an inordinate time to complete this project. I know they had some union issues at the onset but I thought this was resolved. Any thoughts?
Flood damage and hazardous material remediation delayed the project’s completion date.
Stags1978 said:
I was wondering if the people working on the construction of the new library were being paid by the hour. Every time I drive by when they are working it doesn't seem like there are that many people on the work site. It just seems like it is taking an inordinate time to complete this project. I know they had some union issues at the onset but I thought this was resolved. Any thoughts?
My thoughts are immaterial.
Isn’t it meant to reopen in a couple of weeks? Library-Lady and I were discussing it a couple of weeks ago. I know librarians have been busy refilling stacks…
joanne said:
Isn’t it meant to reopen in a couple of weeks? Library-Lady and I were discussing it a couple of weeks ago. I know librarians have been busy refilling stacks…
Early 2025 is the latest estimate for the Maplewood Library (one under discussion here). Library Lady works at the library in South Orange. Both library buildings are currently closed for construction.
The construction is taking foreverrrrrrrr........
Torn tarps protecting the roof is not a good look.
But it is build on the same space that flooded. The town had the brains to move the police station to higher ground.
jeffl said:
The Empire State Building was built in one year and 45 days.
that’s because there were no inflatable rats back then….
Formerlyjerseyjack said:
But it is build on the same space that flooded. The town had the brains to move the police station to higher ground.
I think it's safe to say that, as controversial as the decision to move the police station away from the Memorial Park area was, a proposal to move the library away from that area to "higher ground" (and further from both the high school and the middle school) would be many multiples more of that.
Jaytee said:
jeffl said:
The Empire State Building was built in one year and 45 days.
that’s because there were no inflatable rats back then….
The Great Depression made it easy for the real estate developers and construction firm to flout the unions. People were hungry for work, no matter the working conditions.
jeffl said:
The Empire State Building was built in one year and 45 days.
On the other hand, no workers have died at the library site.
Formerlyjerseyjack said:
But it is build on the same space that flooded. The town had the brains to move the police station to higher ground.
This is why the building systems have been moved to the roof and design elements have been added to reduce the likelihood of flooding going forward. With the number of underground streams flowing under structures at our higher elevations, moving the library to higher ground by itself might
not mitigate against flooding in the future. What is needed is better storm water management town-wide and the town has begun working on that.
joan_crystal said:
Early 2025 is the latest estimate for the Maplewood Library (one under discussion here). Library Lady works at the library in South Orange. Both library buildings are currently closed for construction.
Hope you'll check out my new post: Library Construction Cost.
jeffl said:
The Empire State Building was built in one year and 45 days.
I borrowed an audiobook from the Maplewood Library called "Skyscraper" a few years ago (https://www.pennpress.org/9780812241846/skyscraper/ ). I think it was this book (or it may have been another one as I listened to a few on this topic) that outlined how they had this crazy 'just in time' process for the arrival of the steel beams, etc. But keep in mind, the Empire State Building was likely the very top client for all their distributors, and gave them highest priority.
Our library is not quite so large, financially lucrative, architecturally exciting, nor bragging rights. So... probably not quite as high on distributors' priority lists.
Steve said:
Don’t forget that construction workers dying is now frowned upon.
We didn’t.
The library won’t be ready until the summer. What a mess this has become. Over budget by millions and behind schedule. Where is the accountability?
yahooyahoo said:
The library won’t be ready until the summer. What a mess this has become. Over budget by millions and behind schedule. Where is the accountability?
I know it's not finished but as it is now, it sure is ugly.
RCH
rch2330 said:
I know it's not finished but as it is now, it sure is ugly.
RCH
Why do some of the bricks look old? I haven't seen them working there lately or maybe I'm going by too early. There used be around 10 or so idling vans and SUVs every day.
Early 2025 is the latest estimate for the Maplewood Library (one under discussion here). Library Lady works at the library in South Orange. Both library buildings are currently closed for construction.
. With all the effort & brain power being put towards shared services between the two towns over the last few years, I wonder how the decision was made to have BOTH towns' main libraries closed at the same time.
. It's unfortunate that libraries have to fight to demonstrate their value to communities these days. Being unavailable to provide their important services -- with locked doors in both towns -- doesn't help to maintain that presence. Seems that could have been eased with better planning.
. Maplewood doesn't need a "high ground" library because there already is one. The branch library is already there, and I believe that library has done yeoman's work in maintaining library services during the main library construction. It will all get done & done well, and both S.O. & Maplewood will soon have libraries that operate abd provide superior service and state-of-the-art environments that surrounding towns have offered for many years. Patience. They'll get done and be well worth the wait, I'm sure.
Significant grant money was made available to libraries in NJ for renovation/expansion. Maplewood and South Orange were among the library systems applying for the grant money that received significant funding for shovel ready projects. That is why so many local libraries, not just Maplewood and South Orange were closed at about the same time.
You can order from BCCLS or go to any area library in the BCCLS system and take out materials. There is a "Meescan" app for your phone that you can use to check out books yourself without going to the desk.
Amongst other things, apparently the main pipes burst in a new building. Luckily the books were saved, still that means massive repairs/rebuilding.
Relocations are unsettling however there’s still online borrowing, and hopefully other group activities.
I feel sorry for the staff, having to work in smaller spaces and with (some) grumpy patrons.
If you are referring to the flooding at the Baird, this was a small temporary location for the library. Report is that library materials were not affected but had to be moved so repairs could be made to the flooring. Main entrance of the building remains closed (at least as of this past Monday when I was there). Building is otherwise fully functional. A second temporary location remains open.
ETA: This was a temporary location for the South Orange library. It is the Maplewood Library that is under discussion on this thread.
Yeah, I’ve heard it’s at least 12 months of ‘temporary’. I’ve also been told all, or most, of the staff are at the temporary location (former animal shelter).
joan_crystal said:
If you are referring to the flooding at the Baird, this was a small temporary location for the library. Report is that library materials were not affected but had to be moved so repairs could be made to the flooring. Main entrance of the building remains closed (at least as of this past Monday when I was there). Building is otherwise fully functional. A second temporary location remains open.
ETA: This was a temporary location for the South Orange library. It is the Maplewood Library that is under discussion on this thread.
joanne said:
Yeah, I’ve heard it’s at least 12 months of ‘temporary’. I’ve also been told all, or most, of the staff are at the temporary location (former animal shelter).
joan_crystal said:
If you are referring to the flooding at the Baird, this was a small temporary location for the library. Report is that library materials were not affected but had to be moved so repairs could be made to the flooring. Main entrance of the building remains closed (at least as of this past Monday when I was there). Building is otherwise fully functional. A second temporary location remains open.
ETA: This was a temporary location for the South Orange library. It is the Maplewood Library that is under discussion on this thread.
How many millions to renovate the Baird? And they have flooding indoors in less than a year. Heads should be rolling.
They had one burst pipe. Heads should roll over that? Thank God everything you have ever done in life has gone perfectly. Never a mistake.
DanDietrich said:
They had one burst pipe. Heads should roll over that? Thank God everything you have ever done in life has gone perfectly. Never a mistake.
If a plumber redid all the plumbing in your house and then a pipe burst less than 9 months later and water poured through the ceiling making the first floor useless for months, you wouldn't be pissed?
Several issues with the Baird renovation have been documented, but with no accountability.
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I was wondering if the people working on the construction of the new library were being paid by the hour. Every time I drive by when they are working it doesn't seem like there are that many people on the work site. It just seems like it is taking an inordinate time to complete this project. I know they had some union issues at the onset but I thought this was resolved. Any thoughts?