Construction on Marblehead’s Abbot Public Library’s $9 million renovation project started Jan. 25.
“So you’ll see there’s a perimeter site safety fence installed around the site and it will be there for the majority of the construction,” Library Director Kimberly Grad said. “We are still on schedule to be complete in spring of 2024.”
L.D. Russo, Inc a general contractor based out of Harvard, Massachusetts is the group working on the library she said.
“It’s just portions that are being worked on, you know, the infrastructure, the HVAC, the lighting, some electrical work and rearranging some pieces of the main floor,” Grad said. “I’m excited for it to all come together and be the modern library that we’re looking forward to.”
In 2018, research was done on the building to see what needed to be replaced and/or repaired and more serious talks of a renovation project took place at the library’s 140th anniversary celebration. While the project was halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Board of Trustees eventually approved the strategic plan last January.
The building was last renovated in 1989, and is in need of immense infrastructure upgrades to keep the library safe and accessible.
Some of the initial goals of the project was replacing the building’s elevator and heating, ventilation and air conditioning and fire alarm systems as well as repairing the Americans with Disabilities Act-access and surface storm-runoff
While construction is going on, the library’s interim space is located at The Eveleth School at 3 Brook Road.
“Repurposing the classrooms and gym space at the school, the interim space will include approximately 40 percent of the library’s collections, rooms dedicated to reference and technical support, children, and teens, as well as a quiet reading area and a room for public programs,” Abbot Library’s website said.
For more information and updates, visit abbotlibrary.org.