• By Don Dwiggins
  • Posted Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Commissioners Approve Contract Bid to Demolish Central Library

Hazardous materials removal, demolition of the front part of the library and gutting of the rear section is tentatively set to begin in August after Forsyth County Commissioners approved a low-bid contract of $697,860 submitted by Demolition and Asbestos Removal Inc.

The final design for a new Central Library is now complete and includes most of the elements included by architects in a presentation to County Commissioners last November.

The new Library will be 101,000 sq. ft. in size and include the following:

FIRST FLOOR

  • 240-set auditorium
  • Cafe/coffee bar
  • Exhibit area and event space
  • Demonstration kitchen
  • Computer lab
  • Training Bridge
  • Small meeting rooms
  • Technology "petting zoo"
  • Circulation desk and self-checkout
  • Children's Room

SECOND FLOOR

  • Meeting rooms
  • Makerspace
  • Art gallery
  • Teen zone
  • North Carolina Room

THIRD FLOOR

  • Forsyth Reading Room
  • Meeting rooms
  • General collection
  • Patio/covered terrace

GROUND FLOOR

  • Parking garage
  • Storage
  • Staff offices
  • Loading dock
  • Friends of the Library

“The design is something that we really like, and we feel that the public will be pleased,” Library Director Sprinkle-Hamlin said. “We are looking forward to having a very exciting program at that location.”

Wireless internet will be available throughout the new building as well as self-checkout kiosks. “I think that the building is flexible enough that we can meet the challenges of the new technologies,” Sprinkle-Hamlin added.

The new Central Library is expected to open in the summer of 2017.

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