Walls Going Up

Today at the site we saw (from top to bottom)

The Mechanical Room, drywalled and painted, ready for equipment.









The Electrical Room, drywalled and painted, with installation begun.

Steel framing, conduit and ductwork in the ceiling.

Our Branch Manager's Office, with a window framed to look out into the library.

It's looking good, and hopefully all the mud will dry up soon so work around the building can really get going!

Taking Shape

The library is taking shape both inside and out.

From top to bottom, we see:

the view of the library from parking lot;

the shipping and staff entrance;

the bay window in the children's area;

wall framing and duct work ready to install;

looking southeast from the inner entrance to the library;

the lobby;

and the exterior view of the meeting room space from Dean Avenue.

March of Progress

We've got some new pictures to show the progress of the building. This one is an interior shot looking toward the meeting room area. You can see the large front window.

This picture shows the back south side, where the loading dock will be.

This picture shows the back north side, where staff work space will be located.

The windows will also look into our book sorting room.

Here you can see the front of the building facing Dean, with the overhang. This side will be mostly glass and offer lots of natural light into the library space.

This is the view of the front north corner where the large meeting room space will be. It will offer more space than our meetings rooms at the library downtown and a large window.

Here you see the front of the building looking north, with the overhang and work on the roofing progressing.

This picture shows some of the work going on for the roofing of the main part of the library. You can see the layers of material going on the soffit.

Painswick Branch Taking Shape

Our city project manager says:

As you can see the structural steel is 98% complete and roof decking (the underside of the roof) is complete. Steel studs and exterior insulation are in progress.

The building is starting to take shape!!

A New Year 2011

Now that 2011 has come we are gearing up in anticipation for the opening of the new Painswick Branch Library later this year. When visiting the site today you can see that steel structures are going up.

So close yet so far away.

Look the walls are forming

These Pictures were taken November 10 and as you can see the walls are going up. The workers are on site and progress is moving along. It sure looks bettter than a pile of dirt that we started with at the launch of the site.

The neighbors are getting excited as they see progress with their new branch library each month.

Recent Progress at the Site

We have been seeing footing get finished and walls beginning to appear for the new branch. Rain has made for some delays as concrete work and rain don't always go together, but things are moving forward steadily.

The first picture gives you an overview of the site, the second one is the front wall, which is partially done, with green drainage tubes showing. The third picture is the side and back foundation walls finished.

We're looking forward to the utilities going in soon, which will take us another step forward.

Footings Are In

Out at the site this morning, before the rain began in earnest we see that the library is starting to take shape. The footings for the new library are in the ground, and include rebar that will link them with the walls above. The picture with the crane is the wall facing Dean Avenue, and you can see the jog in the wall where the entrance will be.

The second picture is the wall facing the service road and the Zehr's.

Thanks go to our project manager, Frank, for the pictures.

-- Shonna

Digging In!

Excavations have begun for Painswick Branch of the Barrie Public Library.

Digging for the footings for the building began today.
The formwork will go in next, followed by the foundations themselves.
We are all so excited to see this progress!

Shonna

Site news!

As we get closer to reaching our million dollar goal to build the first Branch Library in south Barrie, activities are starting at the location site. The construction trailer has arrived and this week safety fencing was being installed. No doubt the big pieces of equipment will soon start to follow.

Everyone here at Barrie Public Library is so excited to be ... Branching Out for our community!
Ann

Moving on up!

Great news as our Branching Out campaign keeps moving forward. With the impetus of the Summer Gift Challenge we've now reached 95% raised towards our million dollar goal to build the first Branch Library in south Barrie.

Keep it coming folks!

Everyone here at Barrie Public Library is so excited to be ... Branching Out for our community!
Ann

Summer Gift Challenge - Double your donation!

We're 90% towards our goal. Help us reach it!
You can double your impact right now with this Summer Gift Challenge. Your support is essential to help us build the first Branch Library in south Barrie.

I'm so excited to share with you all that an anonymous donor has issued a Summer Gift Challenge and will generously match all donations to this appeal, dollar-for-dollar, to a maximum of $30,000.

Every day we get closer to that million dollar goal.
Make your gift go twice as far by donating now!

Everyone here at Barrie Public Library is so excited to be ... Branching Out for our community!
Ann

90% and counting ...

We're getting closer every day to reaching the million dollar goal of the Branching Out capital campaign to help build the first branch library in Barrie. This week we broke the 90% mark, thanks to recent gifts.

At this point every bit helps - have you made your donation yet? Go to our donation information to help the books pile up as we stretch towards our goal.

Everyone here at Barrie Public Library is so excited to be ... Branching Out for our community!
Ann

Ground breaking!

What a great morning!

This morning was the official sod turning at the site of the first Branch Library here in Barrie, and we saw quite the crowd gathered to watch. The Acting Mayor (Alex Nuttal) was there with a shiny silver shovel, and he was ably assisted by Catherine Virgo (Chair of the Barrie Public Library Board), Tim Johnston (Chair of the Branching Out capital campaign), Councillor Andrew Prince and Councillor Lynn Strachan, and Al Davis (CEO and Director of Library Services).
[Photograph shows Campaign team and Board members]

The sun shone brightly on a fun and successful event, with many eager members of the public, campaign benefactors, City staff, Library staff, Board members and volunteers all watching from the sidelines. (Make sure to watch A Channel and Rogers Television tonight, and see tomorrow's newspapers for coverage of the event.)

Afterwards we adjourned next door to The Terraces at Heritage Square for a reception that allowed time for questions and viewing of the building designs.

Everyone here at Barrie Public Library is so excited to be ... Branching Out for our community!
Ann

Breaking ground!

At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 30 you are invited to join our Branching Out Campaign Chair, your Library Board, Campaign Team, plus Library and City staff as we venture forth to break ground for the first Branch Library in Barrie. Please join us at the site on Dean Avenue for the official sod turning, followed by a light reception at The Terraces at Heritage Square (right next door).

Everyone here at Barrie Public Library is so excited to be ... Branching Out for our community!
Ann

What excitement on Sunday night as the grand finale of the Tranter Institute's "Dancing with the Stars - Barrie" event reached a glamorous conclusion and Tara Dawn and Clark were declared winners of the first trophy! Lynn Strachan and Lou came a very close second with tension running high.

Everyone here at the library is heartened when community support such as this comes to the fore, with individuals and businesses putting on their own events to help build the first branch library in Barrie. Our sincere thanks to Monica and all at the Tranter Institute.

Everyone here at Barrie Public Library is so excited to be ... Branching Out for our community!
Ann

Ice cream cakes for Branching Out!

Help raise funds for the first Branch Library with Marble Slab Creamery!

Buy an ice cream cake on Saturday, December 5th and Marble Slab Creamery will give $5 to the Branching Out campaign

Yummily delicious - and helpful too!!! Enjoy!

Dancing ...

The energy was running high last night at the Southshore Community Centre during the Tranter Institute's "Dancing with the Stars Barrie" event! Local celebrities once again took to the stage alongside their dance professionals in front of a wildly appreciative audience, and a great time was had by all.

Barrie Public Library says a huge thank you to the Tranter Institute for creating and putting on this event with proceeds going to the Branching Out campaign to build the first branch library in Barrie's south end. Monica and her team have done a great job, with an exciting finale yet to come. Your generosity is much appreciated - thank you!

If you haven't been able to get out to "Dancing with the Stars Barrie" on Tuesdays nights during November don't despair - there's still a couple more opportunities to join in the fun. You can go to the Open House being held at the Tranter Institute on December 5th, from 1pm - 3pm. Or you can still get tickets for the Final Competition & Gala Event being held at the Georgian College Theatre on Sunday, December 13th. General admission and V.I.P. tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Tranter Institute or at the Library. Check out the Tranter Institute website for full details ... then get out there dancing!

Everyone here at Barrie Public Library is so excited to be ... Branching Out for our community!
Ann

Branch design on display at BPL!

Hello everyone,
Last Thursday's Open House with ZAS Architacts sharing the Branch Library design with the public was a great success and we heard many positive comments on the proposed design. If you could not make it out to the Open House you can still see the designs. Large versions are on display at the Downtown Library (look on the Main Floor near the elevator) and you can also view them here on our Branching Out website at this page

Our Branching Out campaign gains momentum and the excitement continues to build. Make your donation today through the Branching out website or in person at the Downtown Library.

Everyone here at Barrie Public Library is so excited to be ... Branching Out for our community!
Ann

Branch Library design

Very exciting news everybody!

South-end Branch Library
Architect’s Open House

The preliminary design concepts are ready! Everyone is invited to join us at this Open House to view the plans for the south-end Branch Library.

Thursday, November 12
7pm – 9pm
At St. Peter’s Secondary School
201 Ashford Drive (Yonge Street & Ashford Drive)


Everyone here at Barrie Public Library is so excited to be ... Branching Out for our community!
Ann