SITUATION:
Providence Public Library (PPL) selected BOND Building as construction manager for the state’s largest-ever public library renovation. The $29 million project transformed the Library’s 1950s wing, auditorium, and special collection areas to provide 21st-century library services for Providence and Rhode Island residents. The 83,000-square foot renovation addresses required life safety systems upgrades and made major infrastructure improvements to PPL’s downtown buildings (150 Empire Street). The project was completed in September 2020.
CHALLENGES:
- Maintain an aggressive schedule to deliver projects on time
- Minimize disruption to an active library during construction
- Manage logistical challenges of a tight site in a busy area of the city
- Significant structural modifications to create a new atrium as well as upgrades to the building’s mechanical systems
SOLUTIONS:
- Utilized laser scanning technology to accurately confirm existing conditions and provide a level of certainty regarding MEP modifications
- Devised detail mitigation plans and protocols to ensure safe conditions
- Multi-phased approach allowed renovations to be constructed without disrupting library activities
- Worked with PPL and design team to develop a detailed schedule for preconstruction & construction to prepare the building for modifications
- Implemented Lean construction practices that minimized disturbances to pedestrian and vehicular traffic by activating “Just-In-Time” delivery strategies to get materials to the project when they were needed
RESULTS:
- Delivered a modern, open, public learning space and creative center in the heart of the city
- New space is warm and engaging with new pedestrian flow and a new multi-story atrium
- Delivered PPL’s strategic vision for the Library – a hub of education, innovation, and personal development for the City of Providence and surrounding areas