Mary Byrne
Despite supply chain issues, code changes, and other setbacks that have increased costs for construction projects statewide, including Belmont’s municipal skating rink, the new library remains on time and within budget.
“We have faced some of the same challenges that the rink is,” said Board of Trustee Chair Kathleen Keohane, a building committee member. “The code changes, the new regulations, and the like, which have put cost pressures on both projects.”
In November 2022, Belmont voters approved a debt exclusion of $34.5 million for the library, and community donations accounted for an extra $5 million. The cost per household is $232 per year per $1 million assessed value. The $34.5 million cost includes design fees, construction costs, contingencies, and temporary needs (relocating library services, for example).
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“There are always unknowns with construction and in this economic climate,” Keohane said. “Part of it is having the right management structure and governance in place to ensure you’re managing costs on top of change orders and manage finances accordingly. I think we have that, as evidenced by the fact we’re bringing the project currently on budget. But it’s construction, and things can happen.”
Speaking to Town Meeting members recently, Building Committee Chair Clair Colburn said energy codes have become more sustainable, plumbing codes have changed, and stormwater regulations have increased – all impacting the project’s overall cost.
“I’m happy to report … we are on budget for the project,” she said.
In an interview, Colburn said energy code changes cost the project upwards of $750,000. Rather than dip into the main contingency fund, however, the additional cost was funded through a “market volatility contingency fund,” which was created using funds that would otherwise have been spent on the upfront costs associated with hiring a construction manager at risk. Instead, given the fact the project wasn’t phased, nor did it have the same time constraints as a school or skating rink, the building committee opted to hire a general contractor.
“We captured that money we were potentially saving going with a general contractor, and we put it into a separate contingency,” Colburn said. “That basically has been eaten up now by these additional regulations and codes.”
The project still has a contingency fund, though not as robust as she would like it to be.
As for progress on the project, demolition and abatement are both complete, according to Colburn.
The former library building closed on Nov. 22, 2023, and library services were dispersed around town. Adult library services operate from the Beech Street Center; children’s services have moved to the Benton Library on Oakley Road, and some staff and administration work from the Chenery School.
According to Keohane, the building permit for the new library was finalized in the last week of February, and the demolition permit was finalized in the first week of March. Demolition crews were at work not long afterward. Bids for both the contractor and subcontractors have also been received.
“We’re very excited about partnering with G&R Construction,” Keohane said.
Boston-based Oudens Ello Architecture was hired as the architect, and CHA Consulting, the owner’s project manager, will oversee the project.
“We feel very fortunate that we’ve got the right team on the library project,” Keohane said.
The design plans for the two-story, 40,460-square-foot library include a main area with views through the building, a children’s room with views out to the “golden bowl” and pool, a laptop bar, soft seating and outdoor seating, a larger young adult area, a maker space, a technology room, and a digital media lab. It also includes quiet study areas, outdoor areas for classroom and event space, and a designated Friends of the Belmont Public Library books sale and sorting area.
Colburn said groundbreaking is anticipated in June. The building is expected to open in fall 2025.
“It’s very exciting to be about to break ground on the construction portion of it,” Colburn said. “We had seven or nine community meetings, and we got a lot of input from the public, and we incorporated those changes. I’m just really proud of the process and the ability to have this project really be designed with a lot of input from the community.”
