Smithtown Library's Renovation Project, From Start to Almost Finished

More than two years after voters of the Smithtown Special Library District approved a $21 million expansion plan, renovations are progressing on schedule, according to Library Director Robert Lusak.

The plan, which adds new children's and meeting rooms to the Smithtown Main Library, Commack and Kings Park branches and consolidates the district's rented spaces into a new Nesconset Branch, had to be approved by both the Town and Village boards before construction could begin.

Here is a complete timeline highlighting the project's progression:

2001: The Smithtown Library becomes an independent library district, separate from and no longer funded by the Town of Smithtown.

March 2008: Residents approve a $21 million plan to modernize and renovate the three existing library buildings and convert the abandoned Nesconset Armory building into a permanent Nesconset Branch.

April 2008: The Library Board approves financing with the New York State Dormitory Authority.

May 2008: The Library Board, staff and architects begin planning the designs.The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) Board adopts a "Resolution to Proceed with a 20-year bond issue for an amount not to exceed $21 million on behalf of the Smithtown Special Library District" and submits the library's application to the Public Authorities Control Board. Prospective bond insurers are notified.

June 2008: Site surveys are conducted at the Smithtown, Commack, Kings Park and Armory sites and detailed maps of the properties are prepared and submitted to the Zoning Boards in both the Village of the Branch and the Town of Smithtown.

August 2008: Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are sent out for environmental sampling services at the Nesconset Armory site. Field surveys for all of the building locations are completed and are sent Library's architects.

The Board of Trustees of the Smithtown Special Library District vote to retain the services of LKRK Enterprises, LLC.  LKRK will provide services during the design, bid and construction of the Library's Expansion and Renovation program.

November 2008: The Library's 2009 operating budget is defeated but the project moves forward with no on the building plans since it was a separate referendum.   Preliminary engineering work is completed, the plans are prepared to be presented to the zoning, building and health departments. Temporary electricity is installed in the Armory.

December 2008: Library's bonds become available for purchase.

February 2009: The Kings Park community becomes vocal about wanting to change the contemporary look of the existing building and to a more traditional, colonial feel, but design at this stage will add additional architectural fees and construction costs.  Ultimately, the Board gives residents this alternative exterior design, even though it will bring additional costs and delay construction slightly.

March 2009: The project enters the last phase of the permitting and approval process. Decisions are made regarding Green Building designations, the location of administrative offices, storage space allocations and some minor details at Commack and Kings Park.  The Board makes a commitment to try to obtain LEED certification from the U. S. Green Building Council and hires Horizon Energy Consultants. They decide to keep the Library Director and business office in Smithtown and to move the networking, internet, newsletter and graphics departments to the Armory.

The Board awaits final approval of the building plans by the Town of Smithtown and The Village of the Branch. Once the approvals are received, the projects will be bid on and construction will start within two months of the bidding.

April 2009: The Board pursues green certification further and meets with LEED accredited green building experts from the Library's architectural firm, the Library's construction consultants and a LIPA green building expert.

May 2009: The Town of Smithtown Planning Board approves site plans for the Commack, Kings Park and Nesconset libraries.  Next, the Town Building Department must issue building permits before the bidding process can commence. The Library plans on bidding on all four buildings simultaneously, "in order to get the best price and to ensure standardization of materials."  The library still awaits approval from the Village of the Branch with the plans for the Main Library, which is located within Village boundary lines.

Preliminary renderings of the buildings are made public.

July 2009: The Village of The Branch Planning Board approves plans for the construction of the Main Library in Smithtown.

Permits from both the Town of Smithtown and the Village will be issued shortly. As soon as the permits are received, the Library will begin the bidding process for the general contracting services.  The expected length of  the bidding process is two months, after which contracts will be awarded and construction will begin.

September 2009: LIPA announces that the library will save $49,000 in annual energy costs at the future Nesconset Branch alone. The building plans are complete but there are  a few minor outstanding issues with local government agencies that delay the start of construction.

October 2009: Library Director Robert Lusak enters into a Project Labor Agreement with local trade unions, which specifies work that can only be performed by local union construction workers. In exchange for this, the labor unions will guarantee no work stoppages. A benefit of the agreement is that the Library can hire one general contactor for the entire renovation/construction project which reduces overall costs.

October 2009-April 2010: Construction continues at the future Nesconset site.

April 2010: Library Trustees use their golden shovels to commence the renovation and expansion project at the Commack Branch.

June and July 2010: Buildings begin to take shape

September 2010: Construction will begin at Smithtown Branch.

December 2010:  Expected completion of Commack Branch.

Winter 2011:  Anticipated Nesconset Branch grand opening and expected groundbreaking at Kings Park Branch. When Nesconset Branch opens Smithtown Branch will close for interior renovations.