Architectural plans for the new Sheep River Library have been released and a building contractor named.

Bluerock Builders, a division of Candor Property Management, was awarded the contract to build the 10,000-square-foot library in Turner Valley. Ken Till, president of Candor, said the library plans are evolving but the major details have been ironed out.

“They are a conceptual drawing,” said Till. “It’s still evolving. The floor plan represents the library board’s wishes and they are comfortable with that.”

The library board and Candor are resolving some minor issues including handicapped access to a children’s reading area.

“That area, because of handicapped accessibility issues, will be raised and made level with the rest of the library,” said Till.

The actual location of the library has not been set in stone yet, but will be located near the Flare ‘n’ Derrick according to Turner Valley officials.

“The exact location has not been finalized, it’s just in the process of being finalized,” said Till.

An open house, where details of the library will be presented to residents, has been scheduled for May 15 in Turner Valley. The location for the open house has not been released.

Till said the library can be substantially completed by March 31, 2011 in order to receive grant funding as stipulated by the provincial government.

“The objective is to have the library ready for opening and handing the keys over to the library board on Friday, Dec. 5, 2010,” said Till.

The province awarded grant funding to build the library with the stipulation the building is operational by next spring.

Muhammad Zia-ul Haque, manager of the Sheep River Library, said he and other library board members were part of the new library’s design process. Board members visited different libraries in southern Alberta to gather ideas for the new library and provide input into the design.

“We, as a library board, were (included) the process of developing that floor plan,” said Haque. “So more or less everything you see from the floor plan, that’s feedback from us.”

Haque said there is nothing missing in the plans he would like to see and the library is still in contact with the contractors regarding changes, such as access to the children’s room. The projected budget of $1.9 million should be enough to include everything in the current plans according to Haque.

Candor was awarded the contract on April 15 in part because of the vision they brought to the table said Coun. Barry Williamson of Turner Valley council.

“He (Till) didn’t just bring the library proposal he also brought what looked like the start of a master plan that he’s going to finish and we are going to work with him on,” said Williamson.

A sub-committee, which included members of the Sheep River Library board, narrowed down the choice of contractors to a short list of three. On March 25, Turner Valley council heard presentations from Candor and other construction companies.

“All three were good, all three were reputable,” said Williamson. “It came down to a number of items and price was one of them.”

The plans call for a 10,017-square-foot building with a 1,978-square-foot video room, a 1,032-square-foot work area, computers and a quiet study area.

rnorthrop@okotoks.greatwest.ca

http://www.turnervalley.ca/

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