Thanks to the lovely weather the week of November 27 and the hard work of our construction team, the Harnish addition is coming along at a great pace!
If you've been at Harnish, the last few weeks, you've been hearing the roofing crew hammering away at installing new board and shingles on the roof and cupola. Thank you for your patience and understanding! The good news is that, aside from some finishing work on the flashing, the roof is nearly done.
And more good news: all interior spaces in the addition and east side of the building (the old YA/magazine corner and Juvenile Fiction/Nonfiction sections) been framed, and drywall is almost completely installed. Don't be surprised if you see a construction worker or two on stilts: they need the extra inches to reach and tape and "mud" the high parts. The next step is to paint the walls and install the drop ceiling.
Bricklayers worked to get all of the exterior brick in place before the weather turned cold. Once the brick is washed (to get rid of the dust and mortar bits), it should be an almost-exact match to our current brick. Take a walk down our path west of the building to behind the building, and you can see how the architect's vision came through, especially with the beautiful dormer window that will allow for natural light throughout.
Exterior glass should be installed by December 15, which will almost completely enclose the new addition (the exception being the access door on the lower level). Interior glass will be installed after painting is completed.
In February, we will be shifting collections and closing off the west side of the Main Library (Children's Play Area/Picture Books Section and the Adult Nonfiction Section and study rooms). We'll be sure to keep you posted as we get closer to that phase and dates are firmed up.
