Tecumseh District Library working on Phase II of renovation project

Phase II of the lower level renovation at Tecumseh District Library is moving closer to its March completion. There have been unexpected surprises during the construction, but TDL Director S. Gayle Hazelbaker has had the support of Daryl VanBrandt, project supervisor with Krieghoff Lenawee, to navigate the challenges.

The two worked together on the first floor renovation in 2009. When Krieghoff was hired for the latest renovation, Hazelbaker specifically requested VanBrandt to head the project.

His expertise was tested with the very big challenge of discovering the source of moisture issues on the west wall. Detective work was required to find and fix the cause and eliminate future issues.

“We needed to find out what was causing water to seep through the concrete block,” Hazelbaker said.

VanBrandt traced the problem to a storm pipe rerouted in 2002 during a previous addition to the building. Broken pieces of the storm pipe were responsible for the leakage.

The water issue also required excavation all the way around the foundation, adding more time and money to the project than were originally expected. There is now a sense of relief that the problem was solved and there will be no more worries about moisture, according to Hazelbaker, who said, “Everything was done right.”

The front egress is also completed, with the exception of landscaping that will be addressed in the spring. Krieghoff Lenawee moved some of the bushes to a temporary location in the back of the library, and they will be transplanted back to the front during spring planting.

The focus now with Phase II is the adaptation of the lower level to bring it into the 21st century. Hazelbaker is excited about changing both the 1960s appearance as well as modernizing for technology. The concrete walls will be covered with a palette that follows the first floor renovation.

The cement floor of the meeting room on the southwest corner of the lower level has cutouts to house floor boxes for electricity and data capabilities in the room. The technological additions will be added during Phase III, including drop-down projectors that utilize the east wall instead of a screen.

The room’s drop ceiling has been removed. A new design mixes grid ceilings and soffits. The addition of a pocket divider wall makes it possible to split the large room into two rooms when necessary.

The windows were also upgraded, letting in more light. The goal was to utilize as much of the space by as many people as possible.

After Phase II is complete, VanBrandt and his team will start work on the other room downstairs. A new addition to the sump pump will be enclosed in a small electrical room. The new egress exit on the east side will have a protective area, designed to protect those with difficulty leaving the building so they can safely wait for assistance.

The kitchen will be removed, keeping only a sink area. There will also be a new bathroom located off the room.

By late 2016 the entire lower level will be redesigned and new technology will be in place. “The plan is the renovation will be done by the end of this year,” Hazelbaker said.

The renovation has increased the creative flow for staff at the library as they work to rethink programming for library pa-trons. Historical Room and Reference Librarian Chuck Harpst has worked to schedule programs off site after losing access to the lower level of the library.

New partnerships with community businesses and groups have allowed library programs to change both location as well as focus.

The staff has been pleased with the positive response by the public and an increase in attendance at their programs. “That is the silver lining,” said Hazelbaker. “I don’t think we have suffered one bit. We are finding a lot of people who hadn’t been attending our programs. We are making new friends.”