GARNER A design proposal to remodel and expand the 1978 Garner Public Library would cost approximately $2 million, Garner library and city officials learned Tuesday.

The report, by OPN Architects of Cedar Rapids, was presented to members of the City Council, library board and library building committee, City Administrator Randy Lansing said Wednesday.

The price tag for the remodeling and new additions would be $2,091,676.

With the two proposed additions, the library building, located at 416 State St., would be 9,100 square feet.

The cost estimate includes new construction, remodeling of the existing 6,100-square-foot building, all-new mechanical systems, design work and administration of the construction contract, Lansing said.

An 800-square-foot addition on the east end of the structure would house a large fireplace and lounging area for reading.

A 2,200-square-foot addition on the west end would house a kitchenette, public restrooms, staff area and conference room.

A large skylight and elevated ceiling are planned in the center of the building.

Areas to be remodeled include a young adult area, main collection and juvenile (childrens) collection, Lansing said.

The architectural report followed three days of meetings with the city in March to hear what citizens wanted for their library.

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Garner studies plan for library remodeling, expansion

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hendrick Construction completed a $5.7 million expansion of the R. Eugene Johnson Detention Center in Laurens County, S.C.

The 20,000-square-foot expansion features eight housing units on two floors, adding room for up to 128 more inmates. The new space is flexible, allowing corrections officers to easily sort inmates based on gender and alleged crime.

"Without this design, the sheriff's office would need larger housing units with more beds to accommodate the broad inmate population," said Dennis Ashley of DA Architects, LLC, the project's architect.

The smaller housing units each can hold up to 16 inmates give the detention center greater flexibility than a more traditional layout of two 64-bed dorms. Additionally, the layout is more cost-effective for Laurens County.

"The expansion was needed to alleviate periodic overcrowding, and it provides a safer and more secure facility for our officers and staff," said Laurens County Director of Public Works Scott Holland. "It's safer for the inmates as well."

The units were built with precast concrete in a semi-circle around a main control room. The control room is located between the two floors, allowing corrections officers to see into each dorm. State-of-the-art electronic equipment in the control room also allows guards to monitor cameras throughout the jail.

The project included upgrades to the security system as well as a new video conferencing system that allows inmates to speak with visitors and court officials without leaving the dorm area. In addition to the expansion, Hendrick is remodeling the existing jail space to add medical facilities, an administrative area and a visitor center.

"We're proud to build this much-needed expansion for Laurens County," said Roger Hendrick, president of Hendrick Construction. "They now have a more secure detention center with flexible space to help them deal with overcrowding issues."

Hendrick Construction, Inc. is a Charlotte, N.C.-based general contractor that provides commercial construction services throughout the Southeast. The company's portfolio includes facilities for corporate headquarters, manufacturing, industrial, health care and bio-tech companies, as well as schools, government buildings, entertainment venues and restaurants. Visit http://www.hendrickconstruction.com.

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Hendrick Construction Completes South Carolina Jail

Pierce County has reopened the Steilacoom ferry terminal after a major remodeling project closed it for nearly five months.

IF YOU GO

What: Ribbon-cutting for the Steilacoom ferry terminal.

When: 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Where: 56 Union Ave., Steilacoom.

Who: Speakers include Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, County Councilman Dick Muri, David Jacobsen, ferry liaison for the Anderson Island Citizen Advisory Board, and Deb Wallace, airport and ferry manager for Pierce County Public Works and Utilities.

Contest: The winners of the 2012 ferry photo contest will be announced.

County officials will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, eight days after the renovated terminal reopened to the public.

Its has never looked better, said David Jacobsen, ferry liaison for the Anderson Island Citizens Advisory Board. Theyve done a beautiful job.

County officials say the project will reduce energy costs, make the building more comfortable and serviceable for customers, give employees more room and extend the life of the building.

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Steilacoom ferry terminal reopens after remodeling; ceremony is Wednesday

BY JENNIFER V. HUGHES

When it comes to renovation projects, contractors say homeowners often don't (pardon the pun) think outside the box.

MARKO GEORGIEV / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jennifer Scherer in her new, bigger closet. Her contractor removed a built-in and took space from another room.

Want a closet? You can steal some space from a neighboring room. Want a room? You can repurpose that little-used closet into something more practical. When your contractor takes a peek behind your walls, you might be surprised to find you have usable space you never knew existed.

A savvy contractor can often come up with an innovative solution for home design and construction problems.

"People sort of get tunnel vision," says Richard Graniere, owner of Wayne-based Advantage Contracting. "They work in the existing space instead of working within the outside perimeters of the house. They get blinded by the walls.

'Open things up'

One of the easiest ways to repurpose space is to take down non-load-bearing walls, and Graniere says most walls in your home are non-load bearing. Even a load-bearing wall can be removed, but it requires support beams to be erected in its place.

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Tapping in to your hidden space

26-05-2012 02:02 I talk about the new snapshot 12w21b, and 1.3 preview. Plus more remodeling! Villager trading link: ------------------------------------------ Follow Me On T

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Minecraft 1.3 Update Preview: New Blocks, Trading + Remodeling - Video

SANTA CRUZ Local contractors are reporting an uptick in work this spring, a welcome change after the recession hit four years ago, followed by the housing crash and a weak recovery.

Thats the report from nine out of 10 members of the Santa Cruz Construction Guild responding to a query from the Sentinel.

Call it the slow thaw from a previously frozen landscape, said Michele Landegger of Boa Constructor Building and Design in Santa Cruz. Inquiries are increasing and actual jobs are breaking ground.

Landegger said she is wrapping up the design phase for two residential remodel-addition projects that are moving forward.

Homeowners that can afford to build now are in an excellent position to get the most for their money, she said, noting the number of quality builders outnumber the projects available.

She estimates the volume of new and remodel construction, which had dropped to 10 percent of what it was before the crash, is now up to 50 percent.

Homeowners making inquiries are looking at modest projects because the amount of funding available to them has decreased in direct ratio to their equity, she added.

We are mostly seeing activity along the water, said Julia Bettencourt of Plumbed Elegance. Investors are back in and spec remodeling is picking up. ... People who bought within the last five years and held the property

She sees homeowners more comfortable with bathroom remodels than kitchens since it is typically a smaller and quicker investment.

Shes also seeing back orders because factories slowed production during the downturn and just werent ready for the volume of demand that we are now experiencing.

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Remodeling putting contractors to work: Housing permits up but numbers small; financing key for commercial projects

25-05-2012 14:19 Select styles of Laminate: $2.55/square foot (materials and basic labor) Toscana Hardwood Floors $5.69/square foot, installed (labor and material) Elbrus Wood Flooring $5.39/square foot, installed (labor and materials) 15% off all home remodel projects (Painting, room additions, remodeling) Call today to set up your Free Estimate!

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BTS Floors Remodeling - Video

24-05-2012 21:33 The music in the beginning and the end I got from an Android app called Jazz Ringtones and it is called Home. :]

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My Bedroom Tour and Room Remodeling "Before." - Video

If you are anything like me, picking out paint colors when you are remodeling or freshening up your home can be perplexing. I swear the color never looks the same on the walls as it did on the color cards in the store. One painting business in San Diego offers a nifty website tool that allows you to play with room color online.

Chism Brothers Painting has a webpage set up with a room and a wide variety of colors to choose from. By simply placing your mouse over the color you change the color of the room to get a more realistic idea of how a color might actually look on walls.

If you need even more help, the company also employs a color consultant who will work with you and to determine not just favorite color schemes, but what rooms are high-traffic areas and whether the color selected will compliment your furniture. The company's website states there are over 2200 colors to choose from. Sometimes another point of view can help when selecting colors for painting jobs.

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Painting Tip: Online Color Selection

23-05-2012 20:52

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Room Additions and Home Remodeling - Video