2022: Exterior Library guardrail installation; 2nd floor closure to allow for carpet removal, replacement and structural repairs
2021: 1st floor Library carpet replacement completed; Phase II structural repairs completed; Library parking garage open
2020: Phase II construction begins at Library and underground parking garage; Civic Center complex due to COVID-19; Phase I work complete, Civic Center garage opens
2019: Phase II investigation, design and construction starts
2018: Additional bond funding approved; Phase I construction begins
2017: Design of structural repairs
2015/2016 – Initial Investigation of Civic Center Complex

Repairs being made inside the Longmont Library

 

The $5 million Civic Center Rehabilitation project began in June of 2018 to correct problems caused by failing steel strands that reinforced the concrete slab originally installed in 1975. New external post tension strands have been installed and a new carbon fiber overlay has been applied. Longmont voters approved a ballot initiative that increased project funding by $8.5 million in 2018 that has allowed additions to Phase I work and secured funding for Phase II rehabilitation to continue at the Civic Center Complex. The project team of JR Harris and Restruction Corporation continue to make the needed improvements that will extend the life expectancy of this City of Longmont facility.

 

Phase II
Phase II work was added as funding was secured during November 2018, when Longmont voters approved a ballot initiative allowing the City to issue bonds for further rehabilitation of existing City buildings. The proposed budget for Phase II work added an additional $2.5 million to the project. Investigation for Phase II efforts began in January 2019. Repairs to the affected areas began in July of 2019. The majority of the repairs were completed in the fall of 2021. The Civic Center mall skylight was replaced and additional repairs to the exterior and the second floor of the Library were completed in the spring of 2022.

 

Library foundation repairs began in the fall of 2020. The extent of repairs to the 1992 Library addition were uncovered as the 2021 carpet replacement project began. These repairs were magnified due to the four different types of foundations that exist throughout the building. All of this work was completed as Library staff continued to provide curbside services to patrons. Additional scope of repairs included:

 

• Exterior guardrail and landscaping along the east side of the Library
• Flooring improvements on the first and second floor of the Library
• Skylight replacement in the Civic Center mall
• Strengthening and making the necessary renovations to the Library foundation and Children’s
• Department keyhole area
• Providing landscaping along the west side of the Library Plaza
• Making necessary structural repairs to the windows and brick of the Two Story
• Building in the southeast portion of the Civic Center Complex
• Updating existing exterior signage of the Complex

 

Phase II work began with the Admin East demolition of the parapet wall, walkway, south stairway, and planter on the south side of the building by the loading dock area. Repairs at the Library Plaza area, north of the Civic Center started the beginning of 2020. Additional scope of repairs included:

 

• Rebuilding/repairing exterior walkways and repairing the concrete structure on the Admin East and Two Story buildings
• Rebuilding the west Library Garage stairs, including new lighting and the addition of powdered coated steel handrail/guardrails
• Strengthening the Admin East and Library buildings to bring the structures up to current code
• Removing the south exterior stairway at the Admin East building
• Removing the brick parapet wall and replacing it with powdered coated steel at the Library Plaza and north and south sides of the Admin East building
• New concrete topping on the Admin East exterior walkways to improve drainage
• Adding lighting and paint, as well as making ceiling improvements to the Admin East parking garage
• Removing and replacing the storefront glass/doors on the north end of the Civic Center, in addition to the north and south ends of the Admin East building
• Strengthening the Library Plaza slab to accommodate greater loads for continued public use, making needed concrete repairs to the structure, providing a new drainage system and concrete topping while adding a heated snow melt system

 

Phase I

Construction began in the Civic Center parking garage to secure the structural stability of the Civic Center. Installation of new structural strands and carbon fiber reinforcement along with other concrete repairs restored the original load capacity and brought the facility up to current codes. The Civic Center parking garage was open to the public in January of 2020.

 

Big Discoveries

Engineering analysis of the Civic Center/Library Plaza found deficiencies in some existing beams and columns at the Civic Center parking garage entrance. They required additional strengthening and in the process of making those repairs, several other areas of concrete damage were identified. The additional repairs delayed the reopening of the Civic Center parking garage from fall of 2019 to the beginning of 2020.

 

Additional Phase 1 Scope of Work

These additions to the Phase I work were approved in the summer of 2019. While they contributed to a delay in completing the first phase and pushed back the start of Phase II work, they were necessary for the long term structural stability of the building. The additional work included:

• Washing and applying a concrete sealer to exposed exterior concrete on the top level of the building
• Repairing the west entry arch, including removing/replacing joint sealants, concrete repairs, washing and applying concrete sealer, and removing/replacing the existing cap waterproofing/flashing
• Removing aging clay roof drain sewer pipe and replacing it with new PVC piping
• Adding additional areas that received architectural concrete topping
• Revising the west entry drain system
• Providing a heated snow melt system for west entrance users
• Epoxy injection to repair cracks in concrete beams
• Removing and replacing the west entry interior doors and adjacent glass