You are about to embark on a long, exciting, frustrating, complicated, difficult, and wonderful journey. In broad strokes, here is the path you'll follow:
The Planning Process
- Form your committee
- Hire your Building Consultant (if needed)
- Complete the community and facility Needs Assessment, incorporating community input
- If a joint project (two municipalities providing joint library services in one building) or a shared facility (two or more municipal departments or organizations operating separately within one building), write a comprehensive Management Plan
- Write the Building Program, synthesizing the library's Long Range Plan and the facility Needs Assessment. Determine your space requirements, independent of site or location
- Receive local approvals as needed
The Design Process
- Assemble the Design Team
- Hire the Owner's Project Manager (OPM)
- Hire the Architect
- Work with the Architect
- Determine the building site
- Execute engineering and geotechnical studies
- Complete Schematic Design
- Work with an independent cost estimator to prepare a preliminary cost estimate
- Prepare related documents to meet Construction Grant submittal requirements
- Raise public awareness & build support
- Keep local officials and community informed
Next Steps
- Form the Building Committee
- Prepare and submit a Construction Grant application in an upcoming MPLCP Construction Grant round
- Organize a Capital Campaign committee
- Receive provisional grant award and confirm local funding to accept award
- Complete Design Development
- Re-estimate project costs
- Complete Construction Documents
- Conduct bidding process to select the General Contractor
- Negotiate the construction contract
- Groundbreaking
