Gail Borden Public Library District's New Branch
SMC partners Jack Shales, Mike Shales and John Shales (as well as their families) were pleased to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of Gail Borden Public Library District's new branch on May 10, 2008. SMC is the construction manager for this innovative new facility which will serve Elgin's rapidly growing west-side. State-of-the-art features include an internet cafe and an advanced automated DVD system in addition to traditional library functions. The contemporary structure will have panoramic views of the natural flora and fauna of the site's beautiful untouched wetlands.
Equally important as the building's innovations in library science, is the Library Board's commitment to environmental responsibility. In their statements at the ceremony, chairman of the board Rick McCarthy and executive director Carole Medal described many of the buildings "green" features, most prominent of which is the geothermal heating and cooling system that will greatly reduce the structure's "carbon footprint" for decades to come. The building team (Library Board, construction manager SMC and architect Engberg Anderson) is shooting for a gold-level certification on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. SMC was selected as construction manager for this project in part because of the great deal of experience we have in building LEED Certified structures.
As part of the ceremony, attendees were asked to write messages on stones that will become part of the building's foundation. The site is located at 2751 Bowes Road and is scheduled to be complete in April, 2009.