Jones Library Building Committee Reviews Cuts to Expansion Project

Report on the Meeting of the Jones Library Building Committee July 17,2024

This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. It can be viewed here. 

The meeting was largely devoted to giving the designers an opportunity to elaborate on proposed cost-saving changes to the Jones Expansion Project  building design that, it was asserted, would make the project more attractive to bidders.  The Jones Library Trustees had previously approved dramatic changes in the design that were projected to save as much as $2.1 million. Several of those cuts, however, have since been restored or have been proposed to be restored. 

Schedule for Rebidding Process
Special Capital Projects Coordinator Bob Peirent told Jones Library Building Committee (JLBC) members that the project is now taking applications from general contractors for prequalification to bid on the demolition and expansion project. Applications are due on August 7.  The rebidding document package will be released on September 11, with the bids due on November 1. 

The revised designs were discussed at the  meeting of the Amherst Design Review Board on July 22, and will be reviewed by the Planning Board on July 31 and the Historical Commission on August 1. Finegold Alexander Architects (FAA) is being paid $89,000 per month by the town for the redesigning. According to the recent amendment to the Jones Trustees’  Memorandum of Agreement with the town,, the trustees are required to  reimburse the town for this expense.

The library also received a signed site plan document from the Amherst Historical Society, which owns the Simeon Strong House adjacent to the library. The document allows the construction of a fence at the rear of the new addition to the library that is partially on the Historical Society property. 

Federally Mandated Review of Adverse Historical Effects Required
Because the Jones Library is in an historic district and has been awarded federal funds from HUD and NEH, the town must conduct a Section 106 review to enumerate potential adverse effects of the proposed project on the historic character of the building and to outline mitigating actions that will be taken to address those adverse effects. The Section 106 review also mandates an environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This review has not yet occurred. Library Director Sharon Sharry was vague on the process, saying, “We are on top of it.” She added that the review is only required to be completed before a contract with a general contractor is signed. However, in public comment, local Attorney Mickey Rathbun, stated that the guidelines for the 106 review are that it should be undertaken early in the project planning. She also pointed out that the findings of the review may require changes in the design, which should be noted before bids are requested and that failure to comply with the findings will jeopardize the federal money that the library is counting on. 

A New Look for the Interior of the Library
Architects from FAA noted that, with the replacement of the cross laminated timber construction with steel beams, the supporting columns in the proposed new addition are no longer necessary. Architect Tony Hsaio noted that this change will open up the space. Also, the ceiling beams will no longer be needed. He said the new design for the ceiling will be a flat linear plank acoustic system rather than the vertical acoustic blades in the original plans.

Elimination of the clerestory light monitor over the adult reading area allows a more simplified roof design. Although Hsaio noted that this change would make it possible to install more photovoltaic panels in the future, no solar panels are included in the project design at this time. The loss of the light monitor will necessitate more interior lighting in the reading room as its function was to bring natural daylight into the center of the building without the problems inherent in skylights (e.g., leaks). 

In other cost savings measures, the design of the children’s room ceiling has been simplified. Also, lower cost materials are planned for the railing and stair risers to replace the steel mesh material that would have permitted light penetration. JLBC Town Council representative Pam Rooney questioned whether the service desk in the children’s room depicted in the plans would be accessible to a child in a wheelchair because of its height and lack of space underneath for knee room. Hsaio said that the designers will take those concerns under consideration in future design modifications.

Much Original Millwork Will Apparently Be Retained
The original plans for the library renovation called for the rare carved millwork in the 1928 building to be removed, stored, and then replaced when construction was near completion. The  value engineering plan presented on June 4 had all the millwork being removed and discarded and replaced by standard trim, except for pieces in the entryway and the main staircase. This raised numerous concerns among community members about the elimination of the rare Philippine mahogany. Because of the outpouring of concern, Jones Library Trustee President Austin Sarat said he has directed the architects to preserve the historic millwork.

FAA’s Josephine Penta said that the firm consulted with experts and have now decided that the best approach is to avoid removing wall plaster and millwork and keep penetrations into walls for mechanical systems work to a minimum, which, according to Penta, would allow preservation of millwork “pretty much they way it is ” in the 1928 building. No figures for the cost-savings were given at this meeting and no inventory of what precisely will be retained and discarded was provided. Also not mentioned was the letter that Andrea Bono-Bunker of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners wrote to Sharry on January 24 stating that “retention of [certain existing interior walls] will seriously alter the functional integrity of the building and jeopardize state funding.”

Exterior Changes Proposed for Roof and Landscaping
The designers outlined plans to reduce costs by replacing the synthetic slate roof with asphalt shingles [The use of genuine slate to repair the original roof was eliminated in the first round of value engineering in 2022.] The rain garden in the rear was redesigned to eliminate the need for bridges in the walkways. Goshen stone benches, the patio outside the children’s area, and patio furniture in the rear were also eliminated. Also, the new plan is to retain the windows on the 1928 building, rather than replacing them with more energy efficient models. 

Although the library project will upgrade the plumbing and sewer systems through the fire station driveway, the DPW will be responsible for repaving. The exterior changes were reviewed in detail by the town’s Design Review Board on July 22 and will be presented to the Planning Board on July 31.