Tulsa's Central Library system reveals details for renovations
BY SARA PLUMMER World Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
2/13/13 at 4:14 AM
The Tulsa City-County Library is presenting more detailed plans of the Central Library renovations to the public Tuesday night as the project's start date gets closer.
The proposed $47.8 million project includes a renovation of the almost 50-year-old building and replacement of its mechanical system, as well as the addition of a parking garage, auditorium, garden area and other features.
Library staff, as well as architects from Meyer, Scherer and Rockcastle, and Crafton and Tull, will be on hand during the meeting.
"We'll have stations where people can get more information on specific interests" such as children's services or the environmental aspects of the project, library CEO Gary Shaffer said.
Included in the renovations are changes to the buildings' entrances, floor designations and auditorium and meeting spaces.
The replacement of the building's electrical and heating and air-conditioning systems, as well as more energy-efficient windows, was the impetus for the project, Shaffer said.
"The building opened in 1965. There was no thought of energy conservation. The windows were single-paned," he said, and with a 135,000-square-foot building, replacing and upgrading those systems is a significant part of the project's budget.
The library system has $15 million earmarked for the project and the remaining funds will have to be raised through grants, federal or state money or private donations.
The project's Capital Campaign Committee, which will be in charge of raising the remaining funds, is still being formed, and private fundraising has not formally started, Shaffer said.
The Central Library's operations will move out of the building around Labor Day. The project is expected to take two years and should be completed by the end of 2015, he said.
During that time, part of the Central Library's collection, including high-demand items such as public computers; children, teen and adult materials; and more popular research materials, will move to the former Homeland grocery store near 11th Street and Denver Avenue.
Most of the library's collection will be warehoused but still available by request, and other programs and services will be relocated to other branches during construction. Administrative offices will be moved to a location downtown that hasn't been determined yet.
Unveiling
What: Central Library building plans unveiled
Where: Aaronson Auditorium at Central Library, Fourth Street and Denver Avenue
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
For more: tulsaworld.com/library
Original Print Headline: Public to get sneak peak at Central Library renovation
Sara Plummer 918-581-8465
sara.plummer@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
A rendering shows the proposed garden area between the Central Library and parking garage as part of a renovation project. Courtesy
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