A new architectural firm to continue plans for the renovation and expansion of the Walter E. Olson Memorial Library in Eagle River will be recommended to the library board of trustees after the library building committee meeting last week.
OPM Architects of Madison was selected by the building committee after references and interviews were conducted by library director Nan Andrews and library foundation representative Nancy Schaffer. “They presented two options for us to look at that they prepared at no cost to us,” Andrews said. “Their layout provides flexibility for future changes with way less permanent walls.”
The library trustees experienced “sticker shock” when original bids for expansion and renovation came in double than anticipated. Faces with anticipated future space needs of the library, trustees terminated existing contracts with Design by Visner and stated over. The library foundation has raised $2 million which will increase the library size from the current 8,000 square feet to near 13,000 square feet.
The full library board of trustees will review and act on the recommendation July 13. A potential time line has Trustees looking to have bids this January with ground breaking in the spring of 2017.
