Topping Out Ceremony Moves Branch Library Forward

Davenport’s new environmentally friendly Eastern Avenue Branch Library – 6000 Eastern Ave. – reached the “topping out” stage on Thursday afternoon, moving the project closer to the highly anticipated summer 2010 opening date. During the “topping out,” steelworkers placed the final steel beam in the entryway of the Library, signifying that the highest point of the building’s superstructure has been erected.

The Eastern Avenue Library is seeking certification as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building and will include geothermal heating and cooling, energy efficient design, storm water management to reduce runoff and pollution, day lighting to reduce the need for electric lighting and indoor environmental quality to reduce exposure to chemicals.

Officials expressed enthusiasm about the building’s progress, and consider it to be a new generation of smarter buildings in Davenport. Other features of the 26,000 square foot library will include separate children and teen areas, a consumer health section funded by Genesis Health System, a used bookstore, a coffee shop, and public meeting spaces. Additionally, the Library will be on three bus routes.

Mayor Gluba praised library staff, the Board of Trustees, and FRIENDS of the Library for moving this project forward, making the Eastern Avenue Branch a successful public/private partnership.

The project would not have been possible without a strong collaboration between public and private funding. Major gifts of $100,000 or more came from the Bechtel Charitable Trust & Foundation, City of Davenport, Vision Iowa CAT Grant, Riverboat Development Authority, Scott County Regional Authority, the Irma Jepsen Endowment Fund, the Figge Foundation, the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, and an anonymous family foundation. Funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is also anticipated.

The general contractor for the Eastern Avenue Branch Library is Bush Construction Company, Inc., of Davenport. Engberg Anderson, Inc. is the architectural firm designing the LEED certified building. The Library is projected to have an annual circulation of more than 275,000 items, and more than 200,000 annual visitors.

For more information about the Eastern Avenue Branch Library building project, visit the Eastern Avenue Branch Blog at: http://blogs.davenportlibrary.com/eastern. View pictures, building updates, and more.
About the Eastern Avenue Branch Library

Location: 6000 Eastern Avenue, Davenport, Iowa
Architects: Engberg Anderson, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Contractor: Bush Construction Company, Inc., Davenport, Iowa
Square Foot: 26,000 sq. ft.
Projected Volumes: 60,000
Projected Annual Circulation: 275,000
Projected Annual Visitors: 200,000
Projected New Staff: 8 FTE (full-time equivalents)