Work Continues on New Library

Despite the cold, snow and rain, renovations continue on Jackson Memorial Library’s new home.  Recently, Maine Coast Construction has been putting up an addition in the front of the building which will be the entrance and foyer of the library. This area will include the front desk and staff workspace and also an area for the new collection, conveniently located by the entrance.

Excavation is also being done in order to install a commercial, stretcher accessible elevator.  To install the elevator the crew needed first to saw out the old concrete floor then remove ledge in order to attain
the depth needed for the elevator mechanicals.  Since this work is taking place inside an existing building, traditional ledge removal techniques such as machine chiseling or blasting cannot be utilized.  Therefore, the crew is using Betonomite (a.k.a. Belgian expanding grout) to crack the rock.  This works by drilling holes in the larger rocks and pouring the grout into the holes.  The grout expands and cracks the rock into smaller pieces which the men can then remove manually. Stone wedges, rotary drills and jackhammers are also used to break up the rock. This is very tedious and labor intensive work and, though progress has been made slowly, we expect the elevator pit to be completed very soon.

Pictured is a porch recently built at the entrance to one of the apartments.  The apartments were part of the youth center and will be retained by the library to be rented out. The rental income will help offset the costs of running the larger and busier library.  The apartments should be very nice (and quiet!) being newly renovated and located in the beautiful village of Tenant’s Harbor.

With the larger building, Jackson Memorial Library will have space for art shows, with gallery space in the central hall and the community room.

Renovations are projected to be completed in May so that the new library can open in June.

Starting in the fall, Maine Coast Construction began renovating the former Grace Youth Center in Tenants Harbor to be St. George’s new library. The building is only five-years-old and is over 9,000 square feet situated on 8 acres of land. It is located right next to the St. George School at 71 Main Street.

For more updates on the Jackson Memorial Library (including architectural plans) visit the Library’s website http://www.jacksonmem.lib.me.us/cms/content/new-building-updates.  You can also visit Maine Coast Construction’s blog on the new library: http://www.mainecoastconstruction.com/blog/category/commercial/jackson-memorial-library/

Maine Coast Construction has been custom-building, renovating and restoring fine homes and commercial buildings in Mid-Coast Maine since 1968.  For updates on Maine Coast Construction’s latest projects in the Mid Coast, please visit www.mainecoastconstruction.com