Agenda - 10-16-2018 7-a - “The 203 Project” Update – Orange County Southern Branch Library

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2 The Board received a memo on September 4, 2018 (Attachment 2) regarding the progress on "The 203 Project" including the work with the Perkins + Will, the project architects, and the stakeholders of Town of Carrboro, Orange County, the ArtsCenter and WCOM-FM. On September 4, 2018 the Carrboro Board of Aldermen held a public hearing and endorsed the recommended schematic design, "The Commons". Work on the project continues to move forward as contemplated in the Development Agreement between Orange County and the Town of Carrboro. County staff is satisfied that "The Commons" schematic design provides the library the necessary space, operational efficiency and visibility. An overview of "The Commons" design highlights is provided within Attachment 3. On September 20, 2018 a public session was held at the Carrboro Town Hall for review of the recommended schematic design, "The Commons." Town advisory boards and the public were asked to make further comments regarding Design, Site Development, Parking and Teen Center. At a planned joint work session on October 25, 2018, the Board of Orange County Commissioners and the Carrboro Board of Aldermen will review the preliminary schematic design, "The Commons", as well as preliminary probable costs developed by the Bree Group of Durham, NC, a Perkins + Will cost estimating sub-consultant, and the recently engaged Construction Manager at Risk firm, Barnhill Construction of Durham, NC. Development Agreement Highlights The following are notable Development Agreement point updates for the Board: A. Library Location with the "203 Project": "The Commons" schematic design contemplates the Library to occupy a full, contiguous floor on the second level of the facility. With regard to the facility design (Article Three, Section C of the Development Agreement): "The Town, as Owner of the Property, will be primarily responsible for procuring all necessary development approvals for the Project to permit the Orange County Southern Branch Library on the Building's lower floors, the proposed uses on the upper floors as described herein and the required associated parking." The design honors the Orange County Southern Branch Library Development Agreement in the following manner: • The placement of the library at the center of the second story will allow it to dominate the space while also drawing your attention to the other elements of the building. The design of the interior will allow the customers to see into the library and for the library customers to see what is also going on in the floor below. The library will be accessible to all customers by the grand entrance staircase and two (2) elevators. • The design of "The Commons" still allows for the library to be on 1 floor for optimum operational efficiency • While another scheme allowed for the library to be on the first floor, it was not recommended because it did not meet the design/use needs of all partners, did not