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Show LI ..P.L.il.11J-.....l.a..l..l,M.,,ll:i.llL.IU.l UmillU..,' lL..!....Mi......!mM..!lll LI I, .UJl .IMBWWIMB IIILIIW Sfiiiero-'fiospitd--::S.lndy' Released '" i " ' . Park City Library Board. Members received copies last Thursday of a compre- hensive feasibility study v pertaining to the proposed restoration of the exterior of the historic Miners Hospital and. the renovation of its interior as a new home for the public library. The massive report which comprises over 200 pages was prepared by Salt Lake : preservation architect Wallace Wall-ace Cooper assisted by Allen Roberts, also an ' architect. The study does not represent a complete guideline to the Hospital project but rather a document offering alternatives, alterna-tives, possibilities, cost projections, pro-jections, and building code considerations. . The subject of financing is broached in the report as are inevitable , future expansion alternatives. alterna-tives. Half of the feasibility study deals directly with the Miners Hospital-Library project pro-ject whileuthe remainder consists of area demographics, demograph-ics, comparative library standards, stan-dards, general preservation "and restoration considera-. . tions as well as long range goals of other libraries : in resort areas. - . Most importantly, the study offers tentative floor ' plans for a modern four-level - public library within; the confines of the historic structure. . : Architect Wally Cooper told Library. Board. Members he was very "optimistic' ' about the project and that his study of the proposal led him to believe the undertaking was "completely feasible." Mr. Cooper explained that although the facade of the historic hospital could be faithfully restored to its original state, it would be u '" . ' ; ; . ."' ' " '' - original state, it would be unwise to treat the interior with similar application. He pointed out that the interior in its original state was not particularly conducive to a functional modern public library adding that some . modification would be necc-essary. necc-essary. He recommended a compatible mix of old and new for the interior whereby as much as possible of the buildings original interior would be resotred creating a feeling of historic quality within a modern functioning library. He admitted that a number of original walls would have to be removed to create open space but added that historic woodwork, ceiling ceil-ing decoration period hard-' hard-' ware and existing stairway could be restored adding character to the interior. To meet Uniform Building Code regulations for public buildings, the floors will have to be strengthened and the exterior walls reinforced. He thought a new roof might be neccessarv as well as an " additional exit and some shoring up of the foundation. Mr. Cooper also admitted that an entrance for the handicap might be requjred. Cooper told Board Members Mem-bers that because the building build-ing was moved it must now comply with the code as if it were a newly constructed facility. He : said that code requirements for renovating an older building are much less stringent than those governing new construction. "It's ironic." Mr. Cooper . told Library Board members,1 'that the J bu i Idirtg was moved to prevent its destruction destruc-tion and because of that its . renovation has become much costlier and prohibitive." Despite the additional cost of code complience, the report indicates that the cost of renovating the structure is : substantially less that build-ing build-ing a new facility. According to the study, the entire . project can be completed for around $40' to $50 per square foot, while statistics indicate the average cost of a neu facility would run at least $66 per square foot and possibl as high as $75 to $85. These . figures indicate hospital project pro-ject would cost between $200,000 to $300,000 which would not include purchase of new books and equipment, nor the cost of interior furnishing, bookcases etc. It would, however, include bringing the building to code, installation of totally new electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems. New windows, doors, paint, walls, roof bathrooms etc. are also included in the cost. Board members reacted favorably to the cost proj ec-tions ec-tions feeling that they were exceptionally reasonable compared to earlier off-the- . cuff estimates. They calculated calcu-lated that the entire project including furnishing, equipment equip-ment and doubling ' the facilities current literary collection could be done for under $500,000. Currently the liorarv con-tains con-tains approximately . fifty percent of the total volumes needed to serve a community of 5.000 and its use last year was half that experienced by : other libraries in similarly sized communities. Its square squ-are footage is currently about twenty percent that thought to be standard for a community- of Park City's size and statistics indicate that last year Summit was ' the lowest county in Utah in terms of library spending. ; According to Mr. Cooper's report, the four level 5,000 square foot Hospital Building Build-ing would allow the Park City Library to function within state standards for some years to come. The report does, however, take into consideration Park City's rapid growth rate and addressesthe eneyitability of expanding the facility at a future date. Mr. Cooper offers three expansion proposals, pro-posals, two of which "deal with additions to the Hospit-tal Hospit-tal itself and the third proposes a new building near the site. Present renovation plans for the hospital propose pro-pose alterations that would make the building conducive in the future to a multitude of municipal uses so that when the library outgrows the space the Hospital could easily be conyerted into a museum, municipal offices, etc. Board members seemed to feel that when it comes to expand the facility perhaps in ten years, it would be better to build a new facility compatible with the Miners Hospital opposed attempting to add on the present facility. Although the Hospital may eventually become too small for Park City's Public Library Board "Members felt the project would offer the community a quality facility for some time plus facilitate the restoration of a very significant community build- Should the city, now decide to go ahead with the project, an architect will shortly be hired to complete final working drawings ; for the renovation and resoration undertaking and eventually a contract let for the actual work. Library Board Members Mem-bers are optimistic that the project can be underway by Spring and completed within six months. The cost of Mr. Cooper's .feasibility study is $2,000. |