Indianapolis PL Renovation Stalls
Structural damage detected in concrete; who's to blame?
by Susan DiMattia -- Library Journal, 6/15/2004
The Indianapolis–Marion County Public Library's $102 million renovation project has been brought to a halt because structural damage has been detected in the concrete foundation of a six-story addition. Interim CEO Laura Johnson said that the work of the contractor, Shook Construction, has been suspended while testing determines the extent of the problems and potential repair options in the concrete of the two-level, 400-space underground parking garage under construction. The garage supports the new addition to the existing building, also being renovated.
"The project is fully bonded, and the library will aggressively pursue recovery of our costs associated with the testing, analysis, and repair of the defective work," Johnson said. Shook Construction issued a statement, blaming the problems on design flaws, indicating that it would repair only those problems for which it was responsible.
According to the Indianapolis Star, the $1.3 million estimated for construction mistakes is a low figure, since it does not include the cost to correct defective concrete work, among other things. It's not clear whether the damage will significantly delay the library opening, which is scheduled for 2006.
