Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/132206
Sarasota News Leader May 24, 2013 Page 55 CONTRACT AMENDMENT OK'D FOR GULF GATE LIBRARY PROJECT The Sarasota County Commission on May 21 approved a $7.7 million contract amendment for construction of a new Gulf Gate Library at the site of the existing library, 7112 Curtiss Ave., Sarasota. "As the Construction Manager at Risk for the project, Willis A. Smith Construction Inc. of Sarasota will … manage the building of the 25,800-square-foot, two-story library," a county news release notes. The contract amendment approved by the board this week includes a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for construction of the library, "incorporating the latest practices in service delivery with more traditional library services," the release says. "The new library will offer lending, reference, children and youth services; public access computers and wireless Internet access; informational and educational programs; automated book returns and sorting; and community gathering places such as meeting rooms, the release points out. Construction is expected to start in June and be completed in late summer 2014, according Harvard Jolly Inc. of Sarasota and St. Petersto the news release. burg provided architectural and engineering The County Commission hired the Willis A. services for the project. Smith firm in June 2012 for preconstruction Since closing at the Curtiss Avenue site in management services for the first phase of the February, Gulf Gate Library has been housed library project, the release adds. That $65,000 in temporary — but larger — quarters of more contract included reviews of design and con- than 18,000 square feet less than 2 miles away, struction elements, preparation of project es- at the southern end of the Westfield Sarasota timates, bidding assistance and construction Square Mall, 8201 S. Tamiami Trail. The library had been at the Curtiss Avenue site since 1983. administration. An architect's rendering shows the concept for the design of the new Gulf Gate Library. Image courtesy of Sarasota County