The name might have changed but the architect that will renovate the Fergus library is a familiar one.
The company now known as VG Architects, once the Ventin Group, won the competition to undertake the work on the county’s last of six Carnegie libraries to be refurbished.
That company has completed numerous projects in Wellington County, including several libraries.
County council awarded the Brantford company the contract at its March 29 meeting.
For its work, VG Architects will be paid 8.9% of the construction costs, with construction estimated at $3.75 million. The building will have about 15,000 square feet. The fee does not include HST.
Information seniors and heritage committee chairman Mark MacKenzie told council that a survey of Fergus residents on what they want to see in their library to date has “a lot of positive feedback.”
Councillor Gord Tosh told MacKenzie he would like to look at the concept plans and asked where he could see them.
Warden Chris White said that to date, the renovations are “just concepts,” and “We’re no where near” approving a final design.
The survey of Fergus residents as of March 1 indicated a number of things residents want with the library.
Those include a bigger collection of books and materials, more space and dedicated areas, a more interesting and comfortable interior decor, and to keep the downtown location.
The library committee report noted that some other ideas included the protection of the heritage design of the building and that it be “sympathetic” to nearby architecture; a full elevator and other accessible features to meet the needs of today’s wheelchairs and scooters, a separate adult, teen and children’s areas, and an environmentally friendly building design and operations.
Harriston nearly done
County officials will be breathing a sigh of relief when the Harriston library is finished.
The building has gone through numerous changes and at one point the county even bought some adjacent land to accommodate all the work and expansion.
MacKenzie’s report indicated that there had been 13 more change orders approved since the previous month’s meeting, and a total of 27 changes in all, for a cost of $128,939.
He told county council the building should be ready for opening in June.
The work that still needs to be done includes:
– drywall and taping;
– painting;
– tin ceiling installation;
– installation of the elevator to continue;
– mechanical finishing will begin;
– electrical installations continue;
– replacement of existing soffit, facia, and frieze boards will start;
– replacing of front stairs will begin; and
– library shelving installed.
