The New Mechanicsville Library

Final Project Photographs from Evans Construction

2009-07-31T10:31:00.022-04:00

Grand Opening, Sunday June 14th

2009-06-18T16:22:00.036-04:00

This blog entry shows photographs taken by Sandra Watts, of the Lukmire Partnership, the architect who designed our marvelous building, during the day of our Grand Opening.

Saturday, May 30, 2009 -- We're Open!

2009-05-30T10:45:00.016-04:00

A shout out to Laura D's for the flowers!

Thank You Volunteers! May 16 was Move That Collection Day!

2009-05-18T13:49:00.021-04:00

Our Outposts Are Here!

2009-05-13T16:33:00.015-04:00

What are Outposts, you may ask? These are lighted columns
where we'll have staff desks to assist you in finding what
you're looking for. We can also check out your
materials here and there will be a station where you can
reserve your own Internet computer!

Shelving Is Here!

2009-04-09T14:18:00.016-04:00

Please Contribute to the Friends' Fundraiser!

2009-04-02T08:46:00.004-04:00

Friends of the Mechanicsville Library are raising funds for an Early Literacy Interactive Center for our new Children's Room! This Center, besides being FUN, develops the six pre-literacy skills for pre-readers; print motivation, print awareness, letter knowledge, vocabulary, narrative skills and phonological awareness.

Please contact the Mechanicsville Library at 746-9615, or just stop by the branch!

Above, the kid-powered tall, colorful Alphabet Whirligig has multilayered spinning top wheels and custom artisan florets that bobble and turn at a height of up to ten feet. Children turn the hand wheel, and flags bearing the lower case alphabet on one side and the upper case letters on the other side go by. A clear case allows everyone to watch the inner mechanics of the heavy-duty industrial chain and gears. And, believe it or not, it's quiet!

Other features for this Center include a children's puppet theater, an infinity mirror, looking at the world through various bug eyes, and many other interactive panels.

Millwork Continues

2009-02-26T09:09:00.015-05:00

Welcome to the new Children's Room!

Window seats in the new children's room.

Children's programming room.

Crafts counter in the children's program room.

Computer counter in the children's room.

Accounts and self-checkout desk.

The meeting room.

Computer counter overlooking the lobby.

Media and reference areas.

Staff workroom.

Exterior shelving, teen area.

Computer counter in the teen area.

Tile work in the family bathroom.

Carpet Installation Begins

2009-01-20T11:13:00.005-05:00

Some of the Inside Progress

2009-01-14T15:58:00.008-05:00

Resinous Flooring in the Lobby, Lighting, etc.

2008-12-12T12:06:00.019-05:00

The Degadur floor has been installed in the lobby--it's a
great product with a great look.

For more information: http://www.rightergroup.com/product_info/degadur/degadur.htm

Doors and Dome Insulation

2008-11-12T16:00:00.017-05:00

The Dome is in Place!

2008-11-05T10:47:00.007-05:00

Paint, Landscaping, Building the Dome

2008-10-28T15:53:00.050-04:00

Roofing and Sheetrocking Underway

2008-09-18T13:47:00.031-04:00

Staff and Friends visit the site

2008-08-29T09:45:00.007-04:00

Brickwork nears completion

2008-07-21T12:10:00.012-04:00

North entrance.

Mechanical room.

South facade.

Large window in front of the meeting room.

Large window into the teen area.

Roof insulation, duct work and more

2008-06-20T13:57:00.033-04:00

The library from the south, with insulation and felt on the roof.

Part of the south facade.

Ladder leans against one of the mechanical rooms. To the right is

the corridor leading into the meeting room.

The north entrance.

Corridor leading through a staff area leading to the

Accounts desk (not yet constructed). Beyond

the sun streams in from the south.

The bookdrop to be.

Staff and server rooms.

The branch manager's office.

Beyond the green machine are the three quiet study rooms.

Roofing and Masonry Begins!

2008-06-04T09:38:00.017-04:00

One of the reading areas.

Looking to the large north windows, adult bookshelves, seating and computer areas.

Staff workroom.

Part of the children's room, the children's garden, and the window into the teen area.

The children's garden, looking north.

The south exposure, the meeting room can be glimpsed in the back left.

Area for some cafe seating in front of the meeting room. The man seen working is in the children's room.

The adult quiet reading room.

The south side, wearing its steel under roof.

Steel Framing Continues

2008-05-07T15:07:00.021-04:00

Steel Framing Begins

2008-04-30T14:55:00.008-04:00

Shops @ Library Center

2008-02-27T12:11:00.016-05:00

If you have been driving west on Route 360 this week you'll have noticed our sign is up!

This view is looking across the site from the vantage point in front

of where the Children's Room will be located.

Part of this photo shows where the Children's Garden will be located.

This view is looking across the building site to the northeast.

Here is where one of the reading areas will be located.

This view is to the northwest, the man in the distance wearing

the white hard hat is standing near the area where the meeting room

will be located.

Above and below is our test wall showing the brickwork and insulation.

The Groundbreaking!

2007-12-11T08:51:00.000-05:00

Clear skies, warm weather and the rumble of heavy machinery
greeted the crowd celebrating the groundbreaking for the new
Mechanicsville Library Sunday, December 9th.

Hanover County Board of Supervisors Aubrey M. Stanley and
Jack Ward spoke about how the new building would become a
tremendous asset, bringing many more recreational and
educational opportunites to the community.

The Lee Davis High School Jazz Band, aided by the acoustics from the
Pamunkey bookmobile, provided a festive, entertaining time to all.

The groundbreaking also kicked off the Friends of the Mechanicsville
Library furnishings fund campaign. Hanover County is providing
the building and the Friends want to add the warmth and improved
facilities that will make all the children and adults feel at home
when they come to the new library. For more information on how
to contribute, contact Jaime Stoops at 746-9615.

Everyone enjoyed the music and refreshments provided by
the Friends of the Mechanicsville Library.

The Lee Davis High School Jazz band got things swinging!

Supervisors "Buckey" Stanley and Jack Ward, Friends

President Barbara Pitts, and PRL Board President and Master

of Ceremonies Anne Cross break ground for the new library.

Staff and Friends of the Mechanicsville Library look brightly to

the future.

Groundbreaking December 9th!

2007-11-21T08:52:00.000-05:00

The groundbreaking for the new Mechanicsville Library will take place at
the location for the new building at 7461 Sherwood Crossing Place, off
Route 360 behind Arby's restaurant.

Please join us for music and food as we celebrate this exciting time!

2007-10-15T13:35:00.000-04:00

A three dimensional rendering of the proposed library.

An amendment to the Library’s approved Conditional Use Permit is on the Planning Commission Agenda for October 18 and the Board of Supervisors on October 24.

Award of the construction contract is also on the Board of Supervisors Agenda on October 24.

The site grading nears completion

2007-08-10T12:37:00.000-04:00

Branch Manager Jaime Stoops checks out the plans with Brian Nixon,

foreman with K. P. Glass Construction.

The developers have cleared and are now grading the site

2007-07-30T13:50:00.001-04:00

Floor Plan

2007-04-23T10:55:00.000-04:00

The floor plan has been finalized!

County Approves Conditional Use Permit

2006-10-26T12:24:00.000-04:00

On Wednesday night, October 25th, the Hanover County Board of
Supervisors approved Conditional Use Permit CUP-24-96.

Earlier in the afternoon, architects Greg Lukmire and Sandra Watts
discussed the latest plans with Board member Colleen Hewitt,
Director Fran Freimarck, and Mechanicsville Branch Manager Jaime
Stoops.

Planning Commission Approves Application

2006-10-06T09:01:00.000-04:00

The Planning Commission voted unanimously to forward our Conditional Use Permit Application to the Hanover Board of Supervisors with a recommendation for approval. Several commissioners commented on the plan, stating that they like the placement of the building on the site and the style of the architecture.

Michael E. Crescenzo, Director of Planning, stated that “the Hanover Youth Perspective ...were thrilled with the idea of the library being so close to Lee-Davis High School and Stonewall Jackson Middle School. They were very supportive of the location. They liked the idea that they would actually be able to walk to this facility and they were happy to be able to provide comments in support of this to the Planning Commission.”

The Shops at Library Plaza

2006-09-15T11:29:00.000-04:00

Architects Greg Lukmire and Sandra Watts have completed preliminary
site and elevation plans for our new library (in green), to be situated in
the new commercial center to be called The Shops at Library Plaza.

The site plan above shows the location of the building.

The South Elevation shows the view of the building from Route 360.
The North Elevation is the view from our parking lot.
(Click on the images to enlarge them.)

The Conditional Use Permit for the library is on the Planning Commission's
agenda Thursday, September 21st. Upon approval by the Planning
Commission, it will be presented to the Hanover Board of Supervisors
on Wednesday, October 25th.

We are all excited about how the plans are progressing!

Community Shares Ideas

2006-05-19T14:54:00.000-04:00

There were six meetings this Tuesday May 16th where various groups of library users were asked what they would like to see, or not see, in the new Mechanicsville Library. Above, branch staff listens as architect Greg Lukmire gives an overview of the site, its surroundings, and possible parking and building options.

Although the seniors told us the special staff at Mechanicsville was the main thing they wanted to keep in the new building, they also suggested well-lighted parking, some lower shelving, and two person quiet rooms with blackboards.

Share your ideas!

2006-05-18T15:06:00.000-04:00

Did you know there is a place on our library home page where
you can send us your input for our new library? Click on: http://www.pamunkeylibrary.org/mech_survey.htm
to be taken to this page:

And don't be fooled by the small area where you type your
comments. That space expands so you can share with us
your ideas!

2006-05-04T13:04:00.000-04:00

Community Input Meeting
For the New Mechanicsville Branch Library

Please join us on Tuesday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mechanicsville Branch Library, when architect Greg Lukmire of the Lukmire Partnership will talk about the process of the new library’s construction. Mechanicsville residents are encouraged to share their hopes and ideas for their new library during this exciting time. Refreshments will be served.

The new Mechanicsville Branch Library building will be built on the 3 acre tract of land off Route 360 behind Arby’s, near Laura D’s.

For more information, call the Mechanicsville Branch Library at (804) 746-9615 or visit the library at 7179 Stonewall Parkway.

2006-05-04T12:57:00.000-04:00

Our architect for the project, Greg Lukmire of the Lukmire Partnership http://www.lukmire.com/ also designed our Ashland branch library.

Site Chosen for New Library

2006-05-04T12:28:00.000-04:00

In April, due to the overwhelming passage of the 2005 Bond Referendum, the Hanover Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of a three acre tract of land off the Mechanicsville Turnpike for a new library. The new building, slated to open in 2008 will replace the older facility on Stonewall Parkway. The new Mechanicsville Branch Library will be designed by Greg Lukmire, who was also the architect of the Ashland Branch Library.