Doylestown Branch Library:
The Construction Project

THE EARLY YEARS: 1941 to 2001
  In 1941, Wayne County Public Library (WCPL) established a branch library in Doylestown in the basement of an elementary school. In 1969, the branch library moved to rented space in the Killian Building at 159 N. Portage Street.

  The Paullin Library was built in 1979 by donations and volunteer labor. The building and land were owned by the Village of Doylestown. In 2001, that building was seriously damaged by termites. In December 2001 the public library’s books, equipment and staff moved to the basement of the Village Hall. The Paullin Library building was later converted into the Village police station.
PLANNING FOR A NEW LIBRARY
  The WCPL’s goals in 2002 were to: acquire land and construct a 5,000 sq. ft. library (expandable to 7,000 sq. ft.). The building would have: room for children’s and family programs, adequate parking, modern technology and attractive children’s and adult areas and would be accessible.
SITE SELECTION: 2002 to 2007
  WCPL began looking for a site for a new library building. In 2002, WCPL signed a purchase agreement for the Killian Building from the Dubetz Trust for $240,000. The building failed a Phase I environmental study. Later in 2002, WCPL issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for sites. Eleven proposals were received and reviewed. No consensus was reached for an adequate site.

  On February 13, 2003, WCPL held a public meeting at Chippewa High School to review two site plans: a small site on Portage Road and a lot next to the high school (owned by the school district). No consensus was reached at the meeting.

  In March 2004, WCPL signed a second purchase agreement for the Killian Building property for $230,000. The building failed a Phase II environmental study.

  In 2006, the Village acquired the Killian building and land (lots 39 and 40) and began intense sampling of the property and learned that a portion (lot 40) was not contaminated and in December 2006 proposed to sell lot 40 and the Village’s contiguous parcels (lots South 85, West 85 and the vacated alley) to WCPL. In February 2007, WCPL accepted and approved the purchase for $204,393.74. The deed was recorded on September 28, 2007.
ARCHITECT SELECTION
  In June 2007, WCPL advertised for a design firm. The Project Description stated that the new Doylestown Branch Library would be at least 5,000 square feet in size, with parking for at least 25 patron vehicles and six staff spaces. The building would be expandable to 7,000 square feet with commensurate additional parking. There would be a Story Time room to be used for children’s programming. The total project budget, in June 2007, was $1,022,000. WCPL received 10 architect packets in July. The Facilities committee ranked the top three firms: 1. Meehan, 2. Van Dyke and 3. Braun & Steidl.  Meehan Architects was hired by the Library Board as the design firm for the Doylestown project.
GREEN BUILDING GOALS
  In July 2007, WCPL was approached by members of the Wayne County Sustainable Energy Network and several other local residents who spoke at several library board meetings advocating green building principles. The Library Board asked members of the Sustainable Energy Network to provide guidance and assistance with raising funds, by March 2008, since many green building projects have high startup costs. No new funding, unfortunately, was realized.

  WCPL began investigating the United States Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for the Doylestown Library.

  In September 2007, WCPL also investigated possible grants for “green energy” projects for the Doylestown Library. Both the Kresge and Gund foundations were contacted. They both provide grants for planning and for construction of green buildings. The grants were, however, only available to not-for-profit organizations but government agencies, including public libraries, were not eligible for the grants.

  On Monday, January 21, 2008, the WCPL Board of Trustees held a Work Session on LEED Certification and invited Village officials and other interested citizens. The purpose of the four-hour meeting was to explain and discuss in detail the certification process and what options were available to meet LEED criteria.
CONSTRUCTION BUDGET
  In October 2007, WCPL and Meehan Architects signed an agreement that included a total project budget of $1.4 million. The agreement included a provision for amending the budget since the Library was seeking to raise $300,000 to $400,000 through private funding or by seeking a low interest construction loan available through the United States Department of Agriculture’s RDA (Rural Development Agency) program. Katherine Long, Clerk-Treasurer was asked to research the loan program. In November 2007, Meehan Architects was also asked to design a building with LEED certification anticipating additional funds could be raised.

  In the fall of 2007, a representative of the Library investigated the possibility of raising several hundred thousand dollars in the Doylestown area. Local community leaders reported a capital campaign would not be able to raise that level of funding. Early in 2008 a resident of Doylestown approached the Library and offered to do preliminary work for fund raising. After several months, the volunteer reported that no significant amount of funds were likely to be raised. The Library Board reviewed the possibility of borrowing funds for construction costs, but there was not sufficient support and no motion was made. In March 2008, the Library Board moved available funds in the Liberty Street Fund (from the May 2005 bond issue) to the Doylestown Construction Fund. The final total project budget of $1.6 million was approved, as well as changes in the architect’s contract.
DESIGN CONCEPTS
  After much study and review after acquiring land in Doylestown in September 2007, WCPL’s Board of Trustees determined, on April 1, 2008, that the available funds of $1.6 million (which is $400,000 more that the $1.2 million total project budget of the Shreve Branch Library, which was completed in 2003) must be carefully spent to provide the maximum benefit to the residents of the Doylestown area and all residents of the Wayne County Public Library District.

  The $1.6 million total project budget will provide for a 5,000 sq. ft building (expandable to 9,000 sq. ft.), designed with sustainable concepts. Although the Library supports LEED sustainable concepts for the design of the branch library, the funds available in the Doylestown construction budget were not sufficient to support a LEED certified facility.

  The specific directions to the architect from the Library Board, on April 1, 2008, were:

      1. The total project budget is set at $1,606,611 which results in a building that must be constructed for approximately $154 per sq. ft. as listed in the BCMC Budget Review Matrix Number Four dated 3/30/08

      2. Design a building with a minimum of 5,000 gross sq. ft.

      3. Design an energy efficient structure and integrate other sustainable concepts into the building design and discontinue the LEED certification process.

      4. Design only for the Library property – not the adjacent Village lot.  

      5.The village may contact the library’s contractor for pricing improvements on their parking lot - to take advantage of cost savings from having the library’s contractor already mobilized and on site.  The design and engineering for the village parking lot would need to be contracted for directly with Meehan Architects by the village.  The design of the library parking lot can be coordinated with the village’s parking lot design, but Meehan Architects does not now have a contractual relationship with the village for work on the Village property. Meehan Architects may enter into a separate agreement with the Village for design services on the adjacent Village lot related to the Library’s project.

      6. Provide a remote, stand-alone book drop with designated space for a car to pull in or pull up to access.  No internal drive up services will be planned at this time.

      7. Include a small manager’s office.

      8. Include a staff rest room that is adjacent to other related plumbing. The plumbing may be roughed in and completed at a later date.

      9. Provide only the parking needed to meet the Village’s zoning requirements.

      10. Indicate flexible expansion areas, totaling an additional 4,000 sq. ft., for future options.

      11. Include a story time / program room, which is enclosed by a door(s).

      12. Attend the WCPL regular Board meeting on May 20, 2008 in Doylestown and present site and elevation drawings.

PRE-BID SITE PLAN & FLOOR PLAN
  Holzheimer Bolek + Meehan have presented the WCPL Board with the following designs for the Doylestown project:



PRE-BID ARCHITECTURAL RENDERINGS
  Holzheimer Bolek + Meehan have presented the WCPL Board with the following designs for the Doylestown project:

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THE NEXT STEPS
  The Doylestown Planning Commission on August 14, 2008 held a preliminary review of the site plan and voted not to approve due to several deficiencies including the landscape plan and parking plan.

  On September 4, 2008, the Doylestown Planning Commission held a final review and, after reports that all deficiencies had been had been corrected, voted to approve the plan.   Advertising for bids began on August 18. Bids are due at noon on Wednesday, September 10.

  The Library Board will review bids at the regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 16 in Dalton.

  If the bids are within budget, the groundbreaking ceremony and start of construction will be in mid-October 2008.

  Completion of construction is tentatively scheduled for the summer of 2009.