CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Interest in renovating the downtown Charleston library is plenty as the bid opening date approaches.
Firms and general contractors have been able to receive tours of the facility as well as ask questions ahead of the Jan. 9 bid opening.
The $27-million effort includes 22,000 new square feet of space, a new entrance and a third-floor walkway connected to the Summers Street parking garage.
According to Brian Estep, a project architect with Silling Architects, 11 general contractors and multiple subcontractors attended a pre-bid meeting on Nov. 19.
“The room was full, which is a great sign because there is a whole lot of interest in the project,” he said.
Silling Architects will perform construction observations when related work begins, in which architects will oversee work and represent the library.
Firms have until Dec. 20 to ask Silling Architects questions regarding the project. The library has already offered several days for firms to tour the library to better understand the project.
“It’s good for them to be able to walk around the site since it is in the middle of downtown Charleston to be able to get really familiar with the constraints they have to work within,” he said. “It’s always really good for them to come and see it in person.”
The Kanawha County Public Library Board of Directors will consider the bids on Jan. 9 starting at 2 p.m.