Bid lower than expected, allowing some extras
By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
PLAINSBORO — The Township Committee awarded a $12 million contract for the construction of Plainsboro’s new library to the low-bidder for the project, H & S Mechanical of Elizabeth.
”We are pleased the bid price was beneath the expected budgeted price, given our estimate of $12,457,070,” said Township Administrator Bob Sheehan.
The committee reviewed the bids at its meeting Wednesday, and added some additions to the project, which came from a list of 11 items that had been broken off and bid on separately from the main construction cost.
The separate bidding on those features created a measure of flexibility during the bidding process, and allowed the township to include features such as lighting upgrades and wall treatments for the library’s community room, according to township officials.
”We originally separated those features, but we felt we could return them to the project,” said Mr. Sheehan. “It will make for a much nicer space.”
Mr. Sheehan said the township has already scheduled some preconstruction meetings, and hoped to hold some sort of ground-breaking ceremony in the first half of December for the project, which has an estimated construction time of 12 to 16 months.
When construction starts and how much gets done in the early stages will really depend on the winter weather, township officials said.
When completed the new 34,000-square-foot library will have nearly twice the capacity of the current facility, located in the township’s municipal complex. The current building was meant to hold around 60,000 volumes, although it is fully packed with nearly 90,000 volumes at present.
For township officials, the new facility’s location in the Plainsboro Village Center is one of the greatest features of the project.
”It’s important, both from the need for a new library and a centerpiece of the village center,” said Mayor Peter Cantu. “This will add to the ambience of the new town center.”
The design of the library was undertaken by BKSK Architects of New York, with assistance from Library Director Jinny Baeckler.
Funding for the building came from a $15.5 million bond ordinance passed earlier in the year, and fundraising efforts by library staff and the Plainsboro community.
Those efforts have already provided around $1.5 million of funding for the project, including nearly $8,000 in coin donations from the library’s Change for Change program.
”We have some more coins coming in from the Forrestal Village fountain,” said Ms. Baeckler. “They just need to be cleaned.”
Earlier in the year, library officials changed their fundraising goal from $1.5 million to $2 million.