LPA architects are implementing BIM for constructing the new building of North Branch Library (North Village) at Atlantic Avenue.
The North Village at Orange Avenue is about to get its all new library. The new North Branch community center and the library will be built as a part of the North Village project. The search for a good architect to handle this project got started from July, 2010. The Redevelopment Agency took responsibility of finding out the right person or organization for the work. At last, RDA or the Redevelopment Agency has come up with a viable solution to the problem. They have imparted the responsibility to LPA. Inc. LPA will be constructing the library building, following a BIM structure.
Tony Foster, the project director of RDA's North Long Beach project said that they expected entries from 3 or 4 companies offering quality architectural services. He was astonished to see that the RDA office was flooded with 23 entries from established firms. Nine of them were summoned for interview. LPA was selected for the architectural designing. The community members of the library and RDA board members sat together for the selection procedure.
According to Foster, LPA had an edge that made them a cut above the rest. LPA had prior experience of working on public or municipal libraries. LPA is often selected by the constructors for their successful implementation of LEED Silver criteria and its rating system from the Green Building Council.
At present the North Branch library is currently located on Orange Avenue. The new construct has been planned to be shifted to the Atlantic Avenue. Foster stated that the new construct will have a considerable amount of open space. A paseo, along with a signalized pedestrian crossing, will be stretched from the western part of the Atlantic Avenue to the plaza area. There will be a parking space behind the main building. Libraries are not merely book depositories any more. In Foster's words, some retail features can make the libraries much more user-friendly. There is a plan for building a cafe adjacent to the library.
LPA has organized 4 community meetings with architects. North Long Beach people have a unique attachment with their library. So, they are involved in the pre-construction procedures. LPA claims that these community meetings have helped them in their implementation of Building Information Modeling or BIM. LPA will be implementing a system through which any changes made at one part of the BIM model will automatically be implemented in the other sections in the building. LPA are planning to use a robotic building center that is used for creating 3-dimensional physical models in merely a few hours.
The planning procedures prior to the commencement of construction are supposed to be over by February, 2011. The library on 18,000 square foot area, the community center on 6,000 square foot area and the adjacent banquet will be constructed very soon.
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