U/C KPL Central Library Renovation | 12 m | 3 fl

[Spokes]

Renovation Timeline:

October 2008 - Kitchener City Council approves plan to renovate and expand Main Library at 85 Queen Street

May 25, 2009 - Kitchener City Council approves awarding contract for consultation and design services to Levitt Goodman Architects, in association with The Walter Fedy Partnership and Philip H. Carter Architect.

June 2009 - Design Phase begins

November 2009 - Public sharing of Schematic Designs for renovated and expanded Main Library

December 2009 - Preparation of Detailed Design

February 2010 - Public sharing of Detailed Designs

Spring 2010 - Project construction contracts awarded

September 2010 - Official groundbreaking ceremony. Saturday, September 11 at 12:00 noon

Fall 2010 - Construction begins on Main Library site, starting with phase one of the underground parking garage (the portion under the current library)

May 2011 - Construction begins on library addition

September 2011 - Phase one of the underground parking garage completed; phase two of the underground garage (the portion under the adjacent park) begins

May 2012 - Phase two of the underground parking garage completed; library renovation begins

January 2013 - Library renovation and expansion completed

http://www.kpl.org/central/prg_project.html

Kitchener will pay $35.8M for library plan

September 30, 2008
Terry Pender
RECORD STAFF

KITCHENER - Councillors voted yesterday to spend $35.8 million to renovate and expand the Kitchener Public Library on Queen Street.

The decision comes after years of talk about whether to expand or build anew.

"We are excited about council's decision," Dan Carli, chair of the library board, said in an interview after the finance committee voted for expansion plan.

Compromise was the order of the day. The library drastically scaled back its hopes of four years ago for a $60-million building next to City Hall.

Councillors nixed that idea just months before the 2006 municipal elections after an outcry over the cost.

After more study, the library board came in with three new options: renovate the main branch for about $32 million, renovate and add about 30,000 square feet for $39.8 million, or renovate and add 54,400 square feet for about $60 million.

The library board recommended the second option. It hopes to raise $4 million on its own, reducing the cost to taxpayers to about $35.8 million.

With a construction start in 2010, the expanded library could open in 2013.

There was a lot of support among councillors for the plan.

"I'm glad we are moving forward," Coun. Geoff Lorentz said.

"It's been 15 years, maybe 20 years, we have been talking about this," Coun. John Gazzola said.

"It is time to move on with it."

The library building will grow by 30 per cent and collections by 20 per cent.

The number of public computers will increase by 50 per cent.

The money for the expansion will come from several sources:

$32.5 million from an economic development fund. Councillors earmarked this money for a new central library years ago.

$4 million from a fundraising campaign by the library board.

$1.1 million by deferring other library projects.

$528,000 from development charges -- fees that developers must pay before constructing new buildings.

$1.6 million by increasing taxes two years before more operating funds are actually needed for the bigger central library.

Some cost-cutting may be possible when the expanded library is designed, Sonia Lewis, the library's chief executive officer, said in an interview.

"We could save a million dollars by reducing the size of the addition from 30,000 to 25,000 square feet," she said.

The Kitchener Public Library operates four branches, plus the central library.

Mayor Carl Zehr strongly endorsed the expansion plan but wasn't crazy about a fundraising campaign to help pay for the project. He suggested if regular users of the library each donated $20, the board would have its $4 million.

"I think this is a way of getting the public involved," Zehr said. "Those who are going to use the facilities now and in the future, I think, will be quite willing to donate a $5 bill a $10 bill or a $20 occasionally as they come through the library."

Support for the library plan wasn't unanimous. Coun. Kelly Galloway, who sits on the library board, opposed spending any more than the $32.5 million earmarked for expansion years ago. The rest should be spent on the branch system, she said.

"We met with a number of community leaders, and it was said the library of the future is probably going to be smaller satellite centres, where people can gather for various reasons," Galloway said.

But Coun. Berry Vrbanovic was pleased the library won most councillors' support.

"I think the library board really struggled with finding the right balance in terms of the right project to bring to council for approval," Vrbanovic said.

The library board will now hire architects to produce a detailed design. The final design must be approved by city councillors.

tpender@therecord.com

http://news.therecord.com/article/421888


City approves architects for library expansion

May 26, 2009
Terry Pender
RECORD STAFF

KITCHENER - City councillors approved the hiring yesterday of Levitt Goodman Architects of Toronto for the expansion of the main library on Queen Street and construction of an underground parking garage.

"I think it's great news for the project," Sonia Lewis, the Kitchener Public Library's chief executive officer, said in an interview.

Levitt Goodman Architects has done much of the preliminary work on the library expansion already. The architectural firm will work in association with Phillip H. Carter, an architect with extensive experience designing libraries, and the Walter Fedy Partnership.

The design and engineering work for the library and parking garage is worth $1.7 million.

"He's done over 50 projects," Lewis said of Carter's experience.

"If there is someone who knows public libraries, it is Phillip Carter."

The nearly $40-million project will add 25,000 square feet of space to the library and include a complete renovation of the existing space.

Of that amount, the library is expected to raise about $4 million.

Another $18 million is slated for a 400-space underground parking garage to be constructed behind the library. The city, region and province are sharing the cost of the parking garage.

"Given how important the KPL is as a cultural institution for our growing community, it's great that a large portion of the project will be carried out by people who were raised, educated and employed in Waterloo Region," Russ Wong, of the Walter Fedy Partnership, said in an email.

Levitt Goodman Architects is no stranger to the area. That firm did the architectural work for the Waterloo Region Children's Museum.

tpender@therecord.com

http://news.therecord.com/article/542576


Changing the cover
Approval granted for Gold Leed Kitchener Library extension plans

World Architecture News - http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com...pload_id=11730

The renovation and expansion of the Kitchener Public Library and the accompanying Civic District Parking Garage has been granted approval based on designs by Toronto architecture firm Levitt Goodman Architects in association with the Kitchener-based Walter Fedy Partnership and Phillip H Carter Architect.

The $24.9 million library will include the complete renovation of the existing facility along with the design and construction of a 25,000 sq ft addition. The project also includes an $18.5 million, three-level underground parking garage that will service the entire Civic District. The new library aims to enhance the lives of residents as a centre for information, imagination and community that will contribute to the economic and cultural life of the city. The parking garage will discretely alleviate the parking deficiency in the area and provide a platform for a future public square, helping the project in its aim to reach Gold LEED status.

The project will proceed under the direction of Janna Levitt, principal-in-charge, and David Warne, project architect, both of Levitt Goodman. The library will remain open during the construction period, which is expected to commence in 2010, with a projected completion date in 2013.

Levitt Goodman led team was selected for the project because of its design ability, its long-standing commitment to Kitchener Public Library and its recognition that this project will play a central role in the future of the region as a cultural destination. Levitt Goodman has authored the past three feasibility studies for KPL and participated in the Civic District design charettes. Other Levitt Goodman projects include the Waterloo Regional Children’s Museum and the University of Waterloo School of Architecture. Phillip Carter has successfully overseen over 50 libraries including renovations to over 25 Toronto Public Library Branches. The Walter Fedy Partnership will provide expertise in parking garage design, LEED, mechanical, electrical and structural engineering and has a history of local civic projects.

Public to get update on library expansion plans

October 31, 2009
By Terry Pender, Record staff



KITCHENER – Next week, library officials will hold two public meetings to share detailed drawings for the expansion of the main branch and update the public on the $39.8 million project.

“We are always looking for public feedback, but at the same time we are giving a progress report to the community,” Sonia Lewis, the Kitchener Public Library’s chief executive officer, said in an interview Friday.

Plans call for adding 30,000-square-feet of new space, mostly to the back of the main library on Queen Street. A new children’s section will be in northeast corner of the new addition with floor to ceiling windows. A large part of the Queen Street side of the building will be covered in glass to create a light-filled space. A ramp leading in and out of the new underground parking garage will be located off Queen Street on the south side of the building.

“I think the architects have really tried to respect the existing building and marry the old and the new,” Lewis said.

“There is a real sensitivity, I think, to how much the community values the existing building,” Lewis said.

The first open house will be held 7-9 p.m. in the Main Library at 85 Queen St. N., on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The second open house will be held from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7 in the Kitchener Market, 300 King St. E.

Levitt Goodman Architects of Toronto is working on the library expansion. The principal there, Janna Levitt, is a graduate of the University of Waterloo School of Architecture. That firm also designed the Waterloo Region Children’s Museum in downtown Kitchener.

“The preservation of the mature trees in front of the library is a goal,” Lewis said.

The library is planning a campaign that aims to raise $4 million to help pay for the project, which will increase the floor space by 30 per cent, collections by 20 per cent and public computers by 50 per cent. A complete renovation of the existing building will be done to, among other thing, make all of the book collections accessible to people in wheelchairs.

Construction of the 400-space underground parking garage will begin next summer. The cost of that $18.5 million garage is being shared among the province ($7 million), Region of Waterloo ($4.5 million) and $7 million from the library and city.

Work on the library is scheduled to begin late next summer and be finished by the end of 2012.

“I would really encourage people to come out and have a look at the design because there will be information about the library, the underground garage and at the same time we will be showing three concepts for a possible public square in the Civic District area,” Lewis said.

“We have a vision to create a public square there and so what we are going to be doing is testing some ideas with the public and getting their input about what the public square would look like,” Lewis.

tpender@therecord.com

http://news.therecord.com/article/622336



An old library with a bright, modern skin

Public gets its first look at conceptual plans for $40-million renovation to main branch

November 03, 2009
By Greg Mercer, Record staff



KITCHENER — Once the Kitchener Public Library's main branch emerges from a $40-million transformation in three years, you may hardly recognize it.

Covered in a transparent skin of long glass panels that will actually glow at night, it will be far cry from the brick and stone block that was erected on the same spot along Queen Street in 1962. It will feature a green roof above the entrance to a 412-space underground parking garage, a “secret garden” reading courtyard, and a central “grand hall” that will shoot up through the second floor.

Many at the first public unveiling of the project's conceptual plans applauded the bigger, brighter, more open concept design. But at least one man, local historian Rych Mills, wasn't cheering.

“Kitchener has a reputation that we tear down everything,” he said, urging the Toronto firm behind the project to scale back its design. “It's a striking new building, but I think it disguises the old one too much. I think we have a chance here to save more of it.”

The library has gone through several renovations in its 47 years, including one most recently in 1994, but this would be the main branch's most ambitious and extensive makeover yet. The construction would add 33,000 square feet of space, including a greatly expanded children's section.

The work would also demolish a former addition built at the back of the branch, fix the decaying roof, improve energy efficiency and bring the whole structure up to the latest standards for disability access.

New parents Tyler and Dawn Lessard heaped praise on the “clean” and “fresh” design, especially plans to make the expanded children's library a central fixture on the ground floor. They think it's a nice blend of the old building and more modern styles.

“I think it's a pretty good middle-of-the-road approach,” Dawn said, adding that the renovated library could bring new vibrancy to the city's core. “I think more young families will gravitate to downtown because of that.”

City hall has already approved the $40-million expansion — about four times the library's total spending last year, including salaries and books.

The library hopes to raise $4 million of that through a fundraising campaign.

That price tag is still significantly less, though, than the $60 million proposed earlier this decade to build a brand new main branch on the city-owned Centre Block lands. Council balked at spending that amount, and eventually killed the project in 2006 in the face of growing public opposition.

Some, like Vernon Bowman, wanted to know why the library was so “adamant” it needed a new building only a few years ago, when a renovation project like this could have met its needs.

Library chief executive Sonia Lewis said, “we're dealing with a renovation now and not a new building,” adding, “and we're happy with that.”

Toronto's Levitt Goodman Architects is working on the library expansion — the same firm that designed the Waterloo Region Children's Museum on King Street. Work on the library should begin late next summer and finish by 2013.

A second open house on the expansion plans is planned for 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 7 in the Kitchener Market, at 300 King St. E.

gmercer@therecord.com

http://news.therecord.com/article/623876

Some info about the parking garage:

City approves $18.4M core parking project

March 03, 2009
Terry Pender
RECORD STAFF

KITCHENER - Councillors yesterday approved building an $18.4-million underground parking garage behind the main branch of the Kitchener Public Library on Queen Street.

Mayor Carl Zehr called the underground garage a brilliant solution to parking needs, since it would include financial contributions from the city, the region and the Ontario government.

"It is a win, win, win," Zehr said at a finance committee meeting.

The provincial government will provide $7 million for the garage because it wants 200 spaces for employees at the new provincial courthouse. The courthouse, to be built on the nearby block bounded by Weber, Scott, Duke and Frederick streets, will open in 2012.

The Region of Waterloo is expected to provide $4.5 million for the garage because it wants 100 spaces. The region plans to take over the existing courthouse on Frederick Street for office space.

The Kitchener Public Library and the City of Kitchener would provide the rest, about $7 million.

The library, which plans a major expansion, wants 112 spaces in the underground garage. The expansion should be finished in 2013. The project has been stalled because of a lack of parking spaces, Sonia Lewis, the library's chief executive officer, said in a presentation.

"At the end of the day, nobody likes spending money on parking lots," said Coun. Berry Vrbanovic, who chairs the finance committee. "It's not sexy, but the reality is it's a necessity."

The total cost would increase to about $20.4 million when fees for architects, engineers, new sidewalks, lighting, parking equipment, public art and project management are included.

Coun. John Gazzola was the only councillor present to vote against the project.

Instead of subsidizing parking lots with tax dollars, Gazzola said, the city should establish a parking authority that would generate enough money from fees to pay for parking operations.

"Bottom line, the users should pay," he said. "On one side of our mouth we talk about green-green-green and getting people out of their cars and yet we make it easy for people to use our parking."

But parking fees are not high enough in the city now to generate enough money to pay for parking operations, Zehr said. A special parking authority would still require tax dollars, he said.

"So we can't go down that path at the present time," Zehr said.

Regional councillors are scheduled to consider the parking project at a committee meeting today.

tpender@therecord.com

http://news.therecord.com/article/496999

City of Kitchener's Staff Report on the Parking Garage - http://www.kitchener.ca/Files/Item/i...iness_case.pdf

City of Kitchener's Business Case on the Parking Garage - http://www.kitchener.ca/Files/Item/i...attachment.pdf

Some images from the KPL's website:

External Views:










Internal Views:






Parking Garage Views:









*Note: The floor plan for Parking Level Three is identical to Parking Level Two

[Spokes]

City of Kitchener's Staff Report on the Parking Garage - http://www.kitchener.ca/Files/Item/i...iness_case.pdf

This is particularly good I found. It gives a good idea of what the future plans for the Civic District are going to be. One thing that I wasn't aware of was the additional phases of the parking garage. I wonder if these will be connected or just side by side?

[UrbanWaterloo]

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (EOI) PUBLIC ART PROJECT
Kitchener Public Library (Central Library)
http://www.kitchener.ca/pdf/kpl_publ...roject_eoi.pdf

Artists/artist teams are invited to submit professional qualifications and a letter of interest as a first stage in the two-stage Kitchener Public Library Public Art Competition. The competition is open to professional artists/artist teams with experience in creating siteresponsive permanently installed public art projects.
...
2.2. Considerations
The identified location for the public art installation is the proposed two-story atrium just inside the front entrance at Queen Street. The dimensions of this area are approximately 40’-0” x 20’-0”. The critical height of the space is 31’-0” from the floor to the underside of the steel roof decking and 29’-0” to the underside of the truss centred in the space.
The atrium features abundant natural light coming from both the glazed pop-up roof with continuous glazing and from windows located above the Queen Street entrance. The proposed floor finish is a low luster stone. The railings surrounding the atrium at the upper floor will all be clear glass. The artist may consider suspending art work from the roof or truss, and/or fastening it to the guard rail. Given the nature of the library environment, works powered by or incorporating motors are not acceptable.

3. Process
...
Stage One: call for expressions of interest from artists/artist teams. Jury selects qualified artists/artist teams who are invited to continue to the next stage.
Stage Two: short-listed artists/artist teams are required to prepare detailed concept drawings and/or maquettes, accompanied by textual descriptions, and to present their work to the jury. Artists will be paid for this work (see section 3.3).
The recommendation of the jury proceeds to advisory committees and the library
board for support before being reported to Council for final approval.

3.2. Budget
Commission fee: $125,000 (CDN). This amount must cover:

• artist’s design fee
• insurance and legal fees
• materials costs
• studio and storage costs
• fabrication
• transportation of the art work to the site
• any sub-contractor’s fee (e.g. structural engineering services for fabrication of the art work)
• documentation (photography of work in progress; of finished work; material specification sheets; maintenance schedule)
• artist travel expenses

Installation will be implemented and paid for by the City. The artist will provide consultation during the installation process.
...
4. Schedule ...Public Art

Stage One - EOI
Advertise call for expressions of interest: March 3, 2010
Deadline for receipt of expressions of interest: March 30, 2010 - By 4 p.m., 7th Floor, City Hall, 200 King Street West, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Selection of artists/artist teams for stage two of the competition: April 8, 2010

Stage Two – Detailed Proposals
Site visit: To be determined (early April)
Deadline for receipt of detailed proposals from stage two artists: May 20, 2010
Artist presentations to jury; selection of preferred artist/artist team: May 27, 2010
Approvals: June 2010
Legal agreement: July 2010
Installation of artwork: Jan 2013

[UrbanWaterloo]

SUBJECT: Prequalification of Contractors for the Kitchener Public Library Expansion and Civic District Parking Garage Construction
DATE OF MEETING: 2010-03-08
DATE OF REPORT: 2010-03-03
REPORT TO: Mayor Carl Zehr & Members of Council
SUBMITTED BY: Larry Gordon, Director of Supply Services
PREPARED BY: Larry Gordon, Director of Supply Services (2214)
WARD(S) INVOLVED: 1
REPORT NO: FIN 10-029
http://www.kitchener.ca/Files/Item/i...ing_garage.pdf

RECOMMENDATION:
That Council approve a request from the Project Steering Committee to proceed with prequalification processes to select a maximum of eight (8) General Contractors, six (6) Electrical Contractors, six (6) Mechanical Contractors, six (6) Sprinkler Contractors, six (6) Concrete Forming, Reinforcing and Placing Contractors, six (6) Curtainwall and Glazing Contractors, six (6) Communications/IT Contractors and six (6) Millwork Contractors to be used for the expansion and renovation of the Kitchener Public Library’s main branch library and the construction of the Civic District parking garage.

BACKGROUND:
The contractor prequalification process will provide the City with an opportunity to examine the contractor’s project history and their experience in the performance of projects of similar magnitude and size. The reference checks facilitate the best indication as to the satisfaction of owners on previous projects.
The construction value of this project is in excess of $40 million dollars with the mechanical, electrical, sprinkler, concrete forming, curtainwall and glazing, communications, and millwork items, combined, contributing in excess of $20 million dollars to the overall cost. The prequalification process results in a selection process that takes into consideration: experience, quality, time management, and costs and results in a greater probability of a successful conclusion to a project.
Also, our previous experience with LEED projects has taught us that contractors who do not have experience in this process perform poorly for Owners who have committed to implement LEED.
Prequalification will allow us to verify their LEED successes and to identify potential issues.

[Spokes]

Glad they're emphasizing the importance of LEED on this one (I kind of laugh thinking of a LEED certified parking garage haha)

Hopefully they can break ground on the parking by mid spring or summer instead of the fall start date that was planned.

[Spokes]

Site plan for the library and the garage: http://www.kitchener.ca/Files/Item/i...0-046_full.pdf

--

Tender award is scheduled for late August 2010

--

One thing from the document that I found weird was this:

The second element is the development of a small surface parking lot at the corner of Weber and Scott Sts which is currently a vacant lot. This will be used to offset the loss of approximately 30 Regional Police parking spaces during the construction of the garage and Library addition.

I wonder if that's the lot that is where the apartment building was supposed to go, or if it's the opposite corner that's already a lot. The fact that it says "development of a small surface lot" makes me think its that lot where the houses were cleared. If that's the case hopefully it's just a temporary lot. The last thing we should be doing is CREATING surface lots.

[taylortbb]

It says during construction so I'm pretty sure it would just be temporary. I certainly agree we don't need more surface parking.

[Spokes]

That would actually make sense for it to just be during construction. The police parking will be right behind KPL and that will all be dug up and therefore unusable. Good catch taylor!

[RangersFan]

So now I am wondering if that Apartment for Weber and Scott was slated for the other corner, and that the demolition of those houses was to make way for this surface parking lot and not the 12 storey apartment building.

[Spokes]

No it was originally for the apartment I think. The first house was torn down like 3+ years ago, before the underground lot was planned/approved.

[UrbanWaterloo]

[jay]

Cost estimate for Queen St. parking garage up $3M

April 13, 2010
BY TERRY PENDER, RECORD STAFF

KITCHENER — The estimated cost of an underground-parking garage to support an expanded library on Queen Street is going up.

The city’s development and technical services committee was told Monday the cost of the underground garage is now at about $21.6 million, up from $18.5 million.

Tenders will not be released for the project for several months yet, but the design of the 412-space parking garage has revealed four concerns that will increase costs—two access ramps, expanded stairwells and elevators, the relocation of electrical conduits, sewers and fibre-optic cables, and the extensive supports needed to protect the historic jail wall.

The cost-over runs come from the consulting firm of Hanscomb Limited, which based the cost estimates on 30 per cent and 50 per cent of the design work.

“The final costs will be known once the tenders are received in July of this year,” says a staff report that was received by the committee Monday.

The underground-parking garage is to accommodate the increased demand associated with an expanded library and a bigger provincial courthouse.

About 25,000-square-feet will be added to the main branch of the Kitchener Public Library and the existing 82,000-square-feet will be completely renovated. The cost: $40 million. It should be done in 2013, but first the parking garage must be built.

The Ontario Government is providing $7 million toward the cost of the parking garage because it wants 200 spaces reserved for employees of the new courthouse that is being constructed nearby on the block bounded by Weber, Scott, Duke and Frederick streets. Waterloo Region is providing $4.5 million because it wants 100 spaces.

The library and City of Kitchener are providing the rest of the funds for the garage. The latest cost estimates mean the city must plan to borrow more money to finance its contribution.

The parking garage will be under and behind the existing the library building.

[garthdanlor]

The cost of the renovated library will end up being about the same as the rejected plan to build a new library as part of the Centre Block project. The end result would have been a much better facility for library patrons as well as a boost for King St, if it would have been allowed to have been built from scratch on the new location. I really wish city council would have had the guts to stand up to the vocal minority (and the Record) that shouted down the new building.

[Spokes]

The cost of the renovated library will end up being about the same as the rejected plan to build a new library as part of the Centre Block project. The end result would have been a much better facility for library patrons as well as a boost for King St, if it would have been allowed to have been built from scratch on the new location. I really wish city council would have had the guts to stand up to the vocal minority (and the Record) that shouted down the new building.

Ya but they'll have a good facility now on Queen, which will help anchor the civic district, and now we get Centre Block Condos which gives the core residential, which is what the core needed more than anything.

Cost estimate for Queen St. parking garage up $3M

Guess that's what happens when things are delayed so long. Costs go up, thats just how things go. Solution: Start sooner!

[garthdanlor]

Ya but they'll have a good facility now on Queen, which will help anchor the civic district, and now we get Centre Block Condos which gives the core residential, which is what the core needed more than anything.

Well, we would have still got the condos as a new library would have only occupied a floor or two. The expansion of the existing building was always second choice by the library board , staff, and ,originally, the City too. The original building design did not allow for easy vertical expansion, and that left expanding into the parking lot. This is not a bad thing, but what it did do was force the library to spend more money on housing cars (the parking garage) than they are on expanding the actual library space.

[Spokes]

Well, we would have still got the condos as a new library would have only occupied a floor or two. The expansion of the existing building was always second choice by the library board , staff, and ,originally, the City too. The original building design did not allow for easy vertical expansion, and that left expanding into the parking lot. This is not a bad thing, but what it did do was force the library to spend more money on housing cars (the parking garage) than they are on expanding the actual library space.

Oh ok, I didn't know that. I wasn't living here from 03-07 when all this was being debated.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Expressions of Interest - E10-034, E10-035, E10-036, E10-037, E10-038, E10-039, E10-040 and E10-041 - Prequalification of General Contractors and Subcontractors for the Kitchener Public Library Expansion and Civic District Parking Garage Construction
REPORT TO: Mayor Carl Zehr & Members of Council
DATE OF REPORT: 2010-05-12 | DATE OF MEETING: 2010-05-17
PREPARED & SUBMITTED BY: Larry Gordon, Director of Supply Services
REPORT NO: FIN 10-085

RECOMMENDATION:
That Expressions of Interest for the Prequalification of General Contractors and Subcontractors for the Kitchener Public Library Expansion and Civic District Parking Garage Construction be awarded as follows:

E10-034 - General Contractors:
Belrock Construction Ltd. Concord ON
Bird Construction Company Etobicoke ON
Buttcon Limited Concord ON
Maple Reinders Constructors Ltd. Mississauga ON
Maystar General Contractors Inc. Vaughan ON
Melloul –Blamey Construction Inc. Waterloo ON
Percon Construction Inc. Mississauga ON

E10-035 - Electrical Subcontractors:
Accel Electrical Contractors Ltd. Woodbridge ON
Black & McDonald Ltd. Scarborough ON
Culliton Brothers Limited Stratford ON
Janick Electric Ltd. North York ON
J.M.R. Electric Exeter ON
OZZ Electric Inc. Concord ON
The Roberts Group Inc. Kitchener ON

E10-036 – Mechanical Subcontractors:
Conestogo Mechanical Kitchener ON
Culliton Brothers Limited Stratford ON
JMR Mechanical Exeter ON
Modern Niagara Weston ON
Nelco Mechanical Limited Kitchener ON
Sutherland-Schultz Cambridge ON
The Roberts Group Inc. Kitchener ON

E10-037 – Sprinkler Subcontractors:
None

E10-038 – Concrete Forming Subcontractors:
Alliance Forming Toronto ON
Avenue Building Corporation Bolton ON
Reimar Construction Corporation Hannon ON
Swan & Associates Orangeville ON
XDG Construction Ltd. Breslau ON

E10-039 – Curtainwall / Glazing Subcontractors:
None

E10-040 – Communications/IT Subcontractors:
Bell Business Markets Mississauga ON
Black & McDonald Scarborough ON
Cable Assembly Systems Ltd. Brantford ON
Demarcation Point London ON
Marcomm Concord ON
The Roberts Group Inc. Kitchener ON

E10-041 – Millwork Subcontractors:
None

BACKGROUND:
On March 8th, 2010, City Council approved the prequalification process for the selection of General Contractors (8), Mechanical Subcontractors (6), Electrical Subcontractors (6), Communications/IT Subcontractors (6), Concrete Forming Subcontractors (6), Curtain Wall/Glazing Subcontractors (6), Millwork Subcontractors (6), and Sprinkler Subcontractors (6).

REPORT:
Expressions of interest were advertised in The Record, on The City of Kitchener Home Page and on the internet through the Ontario Public Buyers Association Electronic Tendering Information System relative to this project. Documents were downloaded by twenty (20) interested parties for General Contractors, fourteen (14) for Mechanical Subcontractors, fifteen (15) for Electrical Subcontractors, four (4) for Sprinkler Subcontractors, ten (10) for Concrete Subcontractors, four (4) for Curtainwall Subcontractors, twenty-four (24) for Commucinations/IT Subcontractors and eight (8) for Millwork Subcontractors. By the closing date of Wednesday March 31st, 2010, responses from fourteen (14) General Contractors, twelve (12) Mechanical Subcontractors, twelve (12) Electrical Subcontractors, three (3) Sprinkler Subcontractors, seven (7) Concrete Subcontractors, three (3) Curtainwall & Glazing Subcontractors, eleven (11) Communications/IT Subcontractors and three (3) Millwork Subcontractors had been received.
The submissions were reviewed by Levitt Goodman Architects in association with The Walter Fedy Partnership & Phillip H. Carter Architect, and the above listed Contractors and Subcontractors are recommended for City Council approval.
A listing of the responding parties follows for your reference.

E10-034 - General Contractors:
The Atlas Corporation Concord ON
Belrock Construction Ltd. Concord ON
Bird Construction Company Etobicoke ON
Buttcon Limited Concord ON
Graham Construction and Engineering Mississauga ON
Harbridge + Cross Limited Concord ON
Maple Reinders Constructors Ltd. Mississauga ON
Maystar General Contractors Inc. Vaughan ON
Melloul–Blamey Construction Inc. Waterloo ON
PCR Contractors Toronto ON
Percon Construction Inc. Mississauga ON
Protrend-Arrow Construction Inc. Kitchener ON
SMA/METTCO Oakville ON
Struct-Con Construction Ltd. Brampton ON

E10-035 - Electrical Subcontractors:
Accel Electrical Contractors Ltd. Woodbridge ON
Black & McDonald Ltd. Scarborough ON
Cahill Electric Limited Ancaster ON
Conestogo Electric Inc. Kitchener ON
Culliton Brothers Limited Stratford ON
Janick Electric Ltd. North York ON
J.M.R. Electric Exeter ON
Kentech Automation Inc. Mississauga ON
Kraun Electric Inc. St. Catharines ON
OZZ Electric Inc. Concord ON
The Roberts Group Inc. Kitchener ON
Sutherland-Schultz Cambridge ON

E10-036 – Mechanical Subcontractors:
Aqua Mechanical Mississauga ON
Black & McDonald Ltd. Stoney Creek ON
Brenner Mechanical Inc. Waterloo ON
Conestogo Mechanical Kitchener ON
Culliton Brothers Limited Stratford ON
Dependable Mechanical Concord ON
JMR Mechanical Exeter ON
L.J. Barton Mechanical Ancaster ON
Modern Niagara Weston ON
Nelco Mechanical Limited Kitchener ON
Sutherland-Schultz Cambridge ON
The Roberts Group Inc. Kitchener ON

E10-037 – Sprinkler Subcontractors:
BML Multi Trades Group Ltd. Brantford ON
Forest City Fire Protection & Security Cambridge ON
Simplex Grinnell Hamilton ON

E10-038 – Concrete Forming Subcontractors:
Alliance Forming Toronto ON
Avenue Building Corporation Bolton ON
Harris Rebar Stoney Creek ON
Outspan Concrete Etobicoke ON
Reimar Construction Corporation Hannon ON
Swan & Associates Orangeville ON
XDG Construction Ltd. Breslau ON

E10-039 – Curtainwall / Glazing Subcontractors:
Contract Glaziers Windsor ON
D&M Glass & Mirror Ltd. Lakeshore ON
Merit Glass Ltd. Guelph ON

E10-040 – Communications/IT Subcontractors:
Bell Business Markets Mississauga ON
Black & McDonald Ltd. Scarborough ON
Cable Assembly Systems Ltd. Brantford ON
Demarcation Point London ON
Fiber Core Communications London ON
JPS Telecom Kitchener ON
Marcomm Concord ON
MTS Allstream Kitchener ON
The Roberts Group Inc. Kitchener ON
Telus Response Cambridge ON
UNIS Lumin Oakville ON

E10-041 – Millwork Subcontractors:
All Wood Fine Interiors Ltd. Toronto ON
Bez Industries Inc. Waterloo ON
CCW Inc. Waterloo ON

[UrbanWaterloo]

LEGAL AGREEMENTS FOR KITCHENER PUBLIC LIBRARY/PARKING GARAGE PROJECT
REGION OF WATERLOO CORPORATE RESOURCES | Facilities Management & Fleet Services
TO: Chair Tom Galloway and Members of the Administration & Finance Committee
DATE: May 18, 2010 | Report: CR-FM-10-011

RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Regional Municipality of Waterloo authorize the following as outlined in report CR-FM-10-011 dated May 18, 2010, regarding the Parking Garage being constructed as part of the Kitchener Public Library expansion and renovation project:
1. Entering into a license agreement with the City of Kitchener for the construction of a part of the underground Parking Garage and its appurtenances on a portion of abutting land owned by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Commissioner of Corporate Resources and the Regional Solicitor;
2. Entering into a limiting distance agreement with the City of Kitchener pursuant to the Building Code, said agreement to ensure an appropriate distance separation from the adjacent property in the construction of the addition to the Kitchener Public Library, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Commissioner of Corporate Resources and the Regional Solicitor;
3. Entering into an agreement with the City of Kitchener for the construction, operation and maintenance of the Parking Garage as it relates to the Region’s 100 parking spaces, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Commissioner of Corporate Resources and the Regional Solicitor;
4. Entering into an agreement to have the City of Kitchener construct an Emergency Generator Room for the Region as part of the Parking Garage construction;
5. Authorization for the Commissioner of Corporate Resources to execute resulting agreements on behalf of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo;

SUMMARY:
Legal agreements for the use of Regional land are required in order to proceed with the construction of the Kitchener Public Library and Parking Garage. An emergency generator room has been added to the project to take advantage of the excavation and construction and reduce the above grade impact of this infrastructure improvement to the Regional Administration campus. Updates are also provided on construction, heritage impacts, communications, groundbreaking and other considerations.

REPORT:
...
Construction Schedule
In order to reduce the construction impact on Library operations, coordinate the phases of Library renovation and ease the disruption to the operation of Regional Headquarters it has been proposed to excavate the area for the underground Parking Garage in two phases pending confirmation of this plan with the general contractor yet to be hired. The first phase will include the area from the Gaol wall to Ahrens Street. This excavation will remove about half of the WRPS parking at 134 Frederick Street for the duration of the first phase. This excavation will commence at the end of October 2010 with construction completion in mid 2011. During this time WRPS vehicles will be parked close by at the Courthouse parking lot accessed off Frederick Street. The second phase of construction encompassing Ahrens Street and half of the City parking lot behind 150 Frederick Street will commence in mid 2011 and be complete in early 2012

Heritage Impacts
...The main heritage impact to Regional property happens where a new parking ramp is being constructed next to the Gaol wall for garage entry and exit off Queen Street. This covered ramp will change the context for various views of the Gaol wall and the architectural consultant is working on options for minimizing the impact of the new ramp structure. Options being assessed include extensive use of glass/transparent materials in the garage door and both sides of the first section of ramp enclosure, solid materials for the second section which compliment the Gaol wall colours and texture and a wrought iron railing on the Governor’s House lot line. After discussion, selection of the preferred alternative will be made by the project team which includes representatives from the Region, City of Kitchener and Kitchener Public Library.

Groundbreaking
A groundbreaking ceremony for the Kitchener Public Library and Parking Garage project is being planned for September 2010. It is expected that this will include representatives from various public entities. Once details on timing and speakers are known information will be provided to Councilors and advertised for general public participation.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The license agreement with the City of Kitchener for underground rights is provided, as per the initial agreement in March 2009, at nominal cost to the City of Kitchener. The budget for the Region’s contribution to the Parking Garage is currently $4,710,000. Cost consultants have recently priced the project based on completion of 50% of the detailed drawings and the budget is likely to be exceeded. The Region’s share of this increase from the original budget could be up to $730,000. Budget pressure has been caused by the need for two vehicle access ramps due to the shape of the garage and its future expansion, expanded stairwells and elevators to accommodate a variety of users, significant buried infrastructure in Ahrens street and extensive shoring to support the Gaol wall and Library foundations. However, a much better estimate of costs will occur when the project tender closes at the end of July, 2010. At this time, construction costs become more predictable and Council will be provided an opportunity to consider option to deal with any project cost increase. The estimated design and construction cost of the emergency generator room plus equipment rough-ins is $900,000. This can be accommodated within the 2010 capital budget for the emergency generator on this campus. A phasing plan for the acquisition and installation of the emergency generation equipment is being developed and the costs for this equipment will be incorporated into the future years capital budget in the emergency generator budget line.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Lot 19 Surface Parking Extension
REPORT TO: Development & Technical Services Committee
DATE OF REPORT: May 28, 2010 | DATE OF MEETING: June 7, 2010
SUBMITTED & PREPARED BY: John McBride, Director Transportation Planning
REPORT NO.: DTS-10-115

RECOMMENDATIONS:
“That the extension of surface parking in Lot 19 be approved; and further,
That The Walter Fedy Partnership be retained to complete the design as part of the Library expansion and parking garage site plan approval process at an estimated cost of $9,000.”

BACKGROUND: As part of the development of a three level underground parking garage at the Library, numerous options were considered to accommodate entrance and exit ramps, define future building sites, better define pedestrian pathways and help to minimize the loss of parking during the construction phase. An expansion of surface parking in Lot 19 has been previously proposed in the area towards the Centre in the Square adjacent to McKenzie King Park. In order to have the extra surface parking spaces built and available in time for the commencement of construction later this year, they will have to be constructed in advance of the main Library and Garage construction.

REPORT:

The expansion of the Kitchener Public Library Main Branch and the development of a 412 space three level underground parking structure will result in major disruptions to parking, vehicular, pedestrian and loading access during construction as well as impacts to adjacent properties. At various stages of the construction these impacts will include:

• The loss of 45 surface parking spaces behind the Library
• The loss of a portion of the Police parking lot
• The loss of approximately 75 surface parking spaces in Lot 19
• The relocation of some monthly parkers to other City facilities
• The temporary closure of Ahrens St
• Alternate loading access for Regional headquarters
• The removal of select trees adjacent to McKenzie King Park, the rear of the Regional Headquarters, Ahrens St and Queen St
• The removal of the turning circles adjacent to the Centre in the Square
• Realigned pedestrian paths between Frederick St and Queen St
• The phasing of construction for both the parking structure and Library expansion

One of the immediate requirements is the development of the surface parking extension in Lot 19 to accommodate entrance and exit ramps, define future building sites, better define pedestrian pathways and help to minimize the loss of parking during the construction phase. This parking area needs to be in place before other surface parking areas are lost due to construction in order to help minimize the impact on surrounding properties. The parking lot expansion and the development of the garage itself adjacent to McKenzie King Park will require the removal of approximately 55 smaller calibre trees that have grown over time at the edge of the existing parking area. The majority of these trees are relatively small and some are in declining health. The City’s Forestry staff have reviewed these trees and determined that they are of little significance. As part of their removal, a landscape plan will be developed to redefine the edge of McKenzie King Park with plant material more suitable than what has inadvertently grown over the years. Two significant trees have been identified and will be protected from all construction activity. Another 26 trees in the area that will require removal include some on Regional Headquarters property, Ahrens St and some along Queen St in front of the Library. Only those trees directly impacted by construction or identified by Forestry Staff as being in declining health will be removed. The attached site plan indicates the areas that will have trees removed. The design of the urban square above the parking structure will incorporate an enhanced surface treatment to offset the loss of these marginal trees. Conceptual designs have been developed that will incorporate McKenzie King Park, the rear of the Regional Headquarters and the area above the parking structure into one integrated open space. The other major change to the surface parking area will be the removal of the turning circles towards the Centre in the Square. A final design is not being proposed at this time and will be incorporated into the reconstruction of Otto St in 2011/2012. Initial modifications are being proposed now in order to better accommodate basic turning movements into an expanded surface parking area. It is recommended that the Walter Fedy Partnership, which is also doing the structural engineering and site servicing design for the larger project also undertake the final design for the surface parking area and the development of lighting and landscaping plans in order to satisfy the site plan approval process. Their estimated cost to complete this additional work is approximately $9,000 plus taxes. A communication plan is being developed for the public and adjacent properties to inform them of these impacts. In addition the final designs will be presented at a third public open house on June 29, 2010 at the main Library.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The reconstruction of the surface parking area between the underground garage and the Centre in the Square is estimated to be $250,000 inclusive of the engineering fees and has been included in the total project cost.

COMMUNICATIONS: There have previously been two public meetings outlining the Library and Parking Garage development plans as well as four reports to Council. A further public meeting is planned for Tue June 29, 2010 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Library to again inform the public about the Library and Garage designs, the impacts on surrounding properties and the staging of construction. Notices of this public meeting will be sent to neighbouring properties, ie Library, Regional Headquarters, Revenue Canada, Centre in the Square, 100 Queen Apartments, the Firefighters Association and the neighbourhood association as well as the placement of notice boards in Lot 19/McKenzie King Park and the Library.