The Girdwood Library and Community Center is showing signs of completion. The frame and roof are up and masonry work is being completed on the outside.“We are framing the library portion of the building,” said Matt Hartman, Project Manager for Pinnacle Construction based in Anchorage. “We’re installing the stone work on the piers, and we’re finishing up the last of the concrete work.”
Hartman says the design of the building architecturally is suppose to be a heavy look with self-supporting masonry, much like the stone column work at the entrance of Alyeska Resort. The exterior will have cedar siding with stone piers, the featured accent of the building.
There are 12 men working full-time on the construction site. Hartman said they will be working through the winter to the completion date February 2008.
“We’ve had some challenges, so we’re trying to maintain the schedule,” he said. Some delays occurred when putting in the foundation, which was based on a ten-year-old design, he said. Adjustments were made to comply with current building codes.
“When we ran across something that didn’t meet current codes, we had to stop and address the issues to make sure we were compliant.”
Hartman said they are pushing through to the end of September and into October to complete exterior work. He added that so far the project is on budget for the $3.69 million value of the contract.