Nauset Construction broke ground for a $6.8 million project that will provide the town with a new public library while preserving and enhancing a portion of the town's historic single-room library building constructed in 1897 by a group of townspeople called the Village Improvement Society. Following the demolition of the existing 9,300 s/f structure, a two-story, wood framed, 18,000 s/f, energy-efficient (LEED Gold targeted) facility will be constructed in its place. This is the town's second library project this year, and the firm is again teaming with Oudens Ello Architecture, with whom they completed the library for the town of West Tisbury on Martha's Vineyard this spring. P-Three Inc. of Norwell is serving as the owner's project manager.
The new library will overlook one of the town's many ponds, and will be set back to allow the historic section of the building - which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places - to serve as a headpiece to the new library. Design features include energy efficient windows that maximize the amount of natural light coming into the building while also offering views of Depot Pond and the new outdoor garden. The orientation and slope of the new roof will also allow for the use of energy-producing photovoltaic panels in the near future.
The upper level will consist of a lobby, a 110-seat multipurpose community room, circulation desk, and an adult reading room (with a gas fireplace) and stacks, and is arranged around a central reading garden to take full advantage of the pond views. The lower level will house the children and young adult areas, with direct access to an outdoor program area. The building design maximizes flexibility of use, both during normal library hours as well as during off-hour community use, and promotes adaptability to future program changes, while also incorporating the latest in green building technologies. Nauset will also construct a 52 space parking lot over the new nitrogen reducing septic system, replacing the existing parking lot currently located within the wetland buffer to ensure against any negative impact on the water quality of the pond.
"This is a project with a lot of interesting elements and challenges - from incorporating the historic structure into the new library, to protecting the wetlands, to building on a tight site," said Nauset president, Anthony Papantonis. "Our experience in managing complex projects and facilitating collaboration with all stakeholders lends itself well to this project."
Construction is now underway and is expected to be completed in early 2016. In the meantime, residents will utilize a 2,100 s/f trailer that is located adjacent to the town hall to meet their library needs.