Grand Opening - April 14th

We've been busy

Our Grand Opening has been set for Tuesday, April 14th at 10:00 a.m. - during National Library Week.

Staff is busy working inside - loading the shelves with books, DVDs, CDs and installing computers. Landscaping is in progress on the grounds.

Please enjoy this slideshow preview.

What's going on and when will we open?

Our building is nearing completion. Construction should wrap up before Thanksgiving. Our furniture begins to arrive in December and installation happens in January. We will also begin moving in books, AV materials, and computers in January. We hope to open in February, so check this site in a few weeks for more information. Meanwhile, here are a few pictures from this week.

September 2008

The month started with Gustav and continued with Ike. I'm happy to report that the facility withstood the winds and the rains. The rain that followed slowed down outside progress a bit, but much progress has been since August.

So when will we open? That seems to be the question everyone is asking. We anticipate the construction to be complete sometime in October and hope to accept the building in November. We will then spend time moving in furniture, computers, book collection and staff and hope to open early in 2009. The landscaping bids open this Tuesday (September 23rd).

The traffic signal at Johnston/Duhon (the library's intersection) is now operational and the road will be open by the time the library opens. (Currently you can access Duhon Road only to get to Giles Nissan/Volvo.)

Mike - the auditorium chairs were being installed on Friday. I hope you enjoy viewing those photos.

This photo show includes pictures from the monthly site meeting on September 9th and from a site visit on September 19th.


If the slideshow doesn't work on your browser, you can view the individual photos at
the Picasa Web site

August - week 2

Carpeting has started. Progress continues on the interiors. Remaining outside work - some bricklaying, painting, and paving - is being done around the rains.

First week - August 2008

Carpet, paint, wall coverings, millwork, glass, bricks... The various subcontractors are doing their part to make this a wonderful library for the Lafayette Parish community.

Landscaping will be bid out in August. The Furniture bids will open on August 12th. We are eager to see the finished product!

Enjoy the slideshow below from photos taken during the site visit of August 7th.

Summer 2008

Interior and Exterior work on the South Regional Library continues during the summer. The construction is still on schedule for a Fall 2008 completion. Landscaping, furniture, technology, and collection will be added before the library opens.

Here's a photo and a slide show from today's site visit. Enjoy.

Exterior nearly complete

Construction continues in May 2008. The Foundation was poured in Fall 2007. Construction should be complete by late Fall 2008. After construction is complete, we will move in furniture, equipment, and books. This process will take several months, and we are, barring any major delays, planning a late 2008 opening.

Library Board / Building Committee members and LCG Councilmen Bruce Conque (Library Liaison) and Keith Patin (District 8) viewed the construction progress this month.

A privacy fence will separate the Library and the neighboring Palms Subdivision. The Library Site will also be nicely landscaped. Enjoy these pictures from site visits during May.

April 2008 construction photos

Enjoy this slideshow of pictures from the April 11th and April 24th site visits. Interior drywall has started to go up. Brick work is almost complete.

March

Progress continues on the new library. We've had several heavy rain days, but we hope the building will be roofed, bricked, and with most of the windows in by the end of March or early April.

I heard on the radio the other day that all the road work causing one-lane and traffic delays around Johnston and Duhon was due to the library construction. While the road work, including the finishing of Duhon Road Extension from Johnston to Robley Drive (extension) will benefit everyone visiting the library, the road project is a separate project that was in the works before the site was purchased for the new library.

This is what the facility will look like from Duhon Road (the entrance).

This is what the facility will look like from Johnston St.

The Sellers Group is the architect. The contractor is JB Mouton.

The slideshow (taken last week) gives you a view of the interior progress. It was a challenge getting to and from the building in the mud so there are not many exterior shots. I hope to have some front exterior pictures soon. While the interior walls won't go up until the building is enclosed from the elements, the metal wall studs are up and the rooms are starting to take shape. We are planning to open by the end of 2008.