Meriden Library Building Project
4/10/23
Our new building is complete! We are open for business, so please come visit.
Updates From the Building Committee:
June 2, 2022
GeoBarns is making great progress on the new Meriden Library! Take a drive by and see it for yourself.
May 5, 2022
We’re thrilled to announce that framing on the new Meriden Library has begun! Monday, May 2nd, our GeoBarns crew began the framing process. Over the coming weeks, you should see lots of activity on site if you walk, bike, or drive by! Even though we’d all like a close look, please remember that this is an active construction site open to crew members only. Don’t worry, you can still see all the activity from the road! The building committee is planning to provide regular updates about what’s happening from week to week, complete with photos. You can also visit our page on the town website for more detailed information.
September 23, 2021
September has been an eventful month for the Meriden Library building project!
Last week, the Library Trustees and Selectboard both approved the final budget for the project. This past
Monday, September 20, the Trustees voted unanimously to approve and sign a contract with
GeoBarns, the design/build firm that will serve as general contractor for the project. The contract is now
fully executed.
With these approvals, the current Meriden Library building will close its doors on Friday, October 1. Until
the new building is complete, some services will be offered from the Meriden Town Hall, and Philip Read
Memorial Library will offer expanded hours. Currently, the building committee plans to have the
foundation for the new building poured in November, with building construction beginning in early
spring.
Stay tuned for more exciting updates, and thanks for your ongoing support!
September 2021
Things are heating up with the Meriden Library replacement project!
The site design is now complete and has received conditional approval from the Planning Board. General contractor GeoBarns invited site contractors to tour the project site and is expecting bids for the site, HVAC, and electrical work. The Building Committee is anticipating final budget numbers from GeoBarns within the next couple of weeks. Once the final budget numbers come in, they will be presented to the Library Trustees for their approval. We expect September to be a busy month, both for meetings and approvals that will allow the next steps of the project to proceed in October.
July 2021
This is a monthly update from the Meriden Library Building Committee to keep everyone updated on the progress of the project. Thanks for your continued interest and support!
Since Town Meeting, the Building Committee has been focusing on the site plan, which is now approximately 85% complete. We hope to finalize it by our next meeting on August 5 so that the site work will be ready to bid. The committee also expects to bring the site plan in front of the planning board for public comment. Simultaneously, members of the committee continue working to finalize the mechanical and lighting design.
Whether the existing library building will be moved or demolished is still to be determined. One interested party has made a signed offer, but the purchase still needs to be approved by a number of town boards. The option of demolishing the building is also still viable, as the building has outdated wiring and contains hazardous materials.
After some required adjustments, the Building Committee is now meeting in person on a regular schedule: the first and third Thursday of each month at 6 pm at the Meriden Library.
June 17, 2021
We want to express our gratitude for the support the Meriden Library Building Project received at Town Meeting! We’re so thankful for the incredible fundraising efforts and for the enthusiasm surrounding this project. We’re planning to keep you updated on our progress regularly via Steve’s Facebook posts, as well as in the library newsletter and on the library website. For the next few weeks, we’ll be working to finalize the detailed design of the new building as the Foundation collects the donations that have been previously pledged. Thanks again for all of your support and excitement for the new Meriden Library!
The Meriden Library Building Committee:
Leeli Bonney, Terri Crane, Shannon Decker, Shawn Rogers, Suzanne Spencer, Library Trustee Liaison, Jennifer Lenz
Advisors: Mary King, Brad Atwater, Steve Halleran
What will the new Meriden Library be like?
The Meriden Library Building Committee has been working hard since 2017 to create plans for a new facility that will meet the established needs of the town in a modern building while preserving the warmth and charm that we love in our existing building. Since this is a public project, we have given significant attention to ensure that the building and grounds are designed to be accessible, durable, easy to maintain, and exceptionally energy-efficient (using environmentally sustainable materials and methods) to maximize the value to taxpayers over the long term.
Here are some highlights of the new Meriden Library building:
- The new building will be on the site of the current library. It will be single-story, positioned on a slight rise above street level, with walkways leading to entries at grade level.
- The scale of the new building is appropriate for a public building in a rural New England village, with the aesthetic that GeoBarns is known for.
- A new multipurpose room will see regular use for library-sponsored activities. It is also designed so that it can be used for activities outside of library hours.
- The library building itself will provide a welcoming, comfortable experience for patrons. It will be well-lit using natural and (controlled) mechanical light. It will be heated, cooled, and ventilated with equipment that is extremely energy efficient and more easily and cheaply maintained, using heat pumps and energy-recovery ventilators.
- The new building will include familiar materials and colors for siding, roofing, and interior finishes that will be selected for their aesthetics, durability, and ease of maintenance.
- The new building is sized to accommodate all of the existing functions of the current library and incorporates the necessary features to make the building safe, accessible to all, and compliant with all applicable building codes.
- The building includes spaces tailored to the needs of children, teens, and adults, and takes advantage of the beautiful outdoor area, as well.
- The entry lobby includes bathrooms and a kitchenette that allow for independent use without disturbing functions in either the library proper or the multipurpose room.
- Parking will be expanded to provide 18 parking spaces along the western side of the building, including ADA compliant parking spaces.
- To improve safety for pedestrians and vehicles, curbing and sidewalks will separate cars and people, and new sidewalks will lead from the street and parking areas to the main entrance.
- Energy-efficient exterior lighting will allow drivers and pedestrians to safely navigate parking areas and walkways.
If you would like to contribute to the Building Fund campaign please contact the Meriden Library Foundation: merlibfoundation@gmail.com