ABOUT THE LIBRARY
Library Moves to Recoup Construction Delay Damages from Former Central Library Construction Managers
June 2, 2006
The Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library (IMCPL) has added the former construction managers of the Central Library addition and renovation project to the companies it is suing to recover repair, legal, and delay costs associated with the project.
Named in the suit were Turner Construction Company, Trotter Construction Company, Inc., and Shiel Sexton Company, Inc. The firms managed construction of the Transformed Central Library at 40 East St. Clair Street as the Library Delivery Team, a tri-venture (Turner Construction, 50 percent; Trotter Construction, 30 percent; Shiel Sexton, 20 percent) they formed for the project. The Library Team's contract ended in December 2005, and was not renewed.
Construction on the project began in 2001, but under the Team's management, construction was delayed almost 16-months to identify and repair concrete deficiencies in the two-story underground parking garage. The project re-commenced in June 2005.
"We took this action because it is in the best interests of taxpayers," said Louis Mahern, Library Board President. The Library is suing the firms responsible for the garage construction mistakes to recover repair, legal, and delay costs estimated to exceed $40 million. Other firms being sued to recover costs include Woollen, Molzan and Partners, Inc.; Thornton-Tomasetti Engineers; Patriot Engineering and Environmental, Inc.; and Shook LLC.
Hunt Construction Group, Inc., in association with Smoot Construction, LLC., took over construction management of the Central Library project in December 2005. Construction on the project is progressing rapidly with the recent completion of the six-story addition?s glass curtain wall. Hunt/Smoot also is managing construction of the new stadium for Indianapolis.
The transformed facility will house a majority of the Library's collection of books and materials, and provide a technology-rich environment for the public. The addition will increase the number of computers available to the public by approximately 200. It also will double Library guest seating, and add underground parking for 400 vehicles.
The transformed Central Library will be the hub for the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library system with its 22 branches throughout Marion County. IMCPL has served Marion County residents since 1873. It has a collection of more than 2.1 million items.
