San Jose Market Report $212 million San Jose libraries program nears completion

With the 20 library/community center projects approved by a construction measure years ago, the San Jose Public Works Department now says it’s getting down to the last few projects

By David Silva

Construction crews are in the final sprint in completing four public library projects in San Jose, all part of a $212-million effort to build or greatly expand 20 centers for reading in the city.

The Seven Trees Library is one of four libraries that is currently being finished within San Jose.

Thus far, 16 San Jose libraries have been refurbished and two built new with funds generated from a $211-million library construction measure approved by voters in 2000 and some financial help from a $250-million park-facilities measure passed the same year.

Still to go are three library expansion efforts – the East San Jose Carnegie and Santa Teresa branch libraries and the Seven Trees Community Center and Branch Library – and an entirely new facility – the Bascom Library and Community Center.

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“We are bringing 20 distinct pieces of architecture to the community at large,” says Dominic Oronato, a project manager with the San Jose Public Works Department. “The city has never taken on this many public infrastructure projects at once.”

The largest and most expensive of the projects is the $25.5-million, 58,000-sq ft Seven Trees Community Center and Branch Library, which is on target for completion in May, says Ken Gendotti, vice president of operations for general contractor Gonsalves and Stronck Co. of San Carlos. As designed by project architect Rob Wellington Quigley of Palo Alto, the two-story Seven Trees will feature a library expanded from its current 6,769 sq ft to 20,000 sq ft. There also will be a 38,000-sq-ft community center featuring an interior gymnasium, banquet room, weightlifting room, classrooms and a surface-level parking lot with up to 80 spaces.

Built within a park setting, the facility will also include four exterior tennis courts, a basketball court and picnic tables.

“It will also have a playground for young children,” Gendotti says. “The playground equipment there is pretty interesting. It’s built by an artist under a separate contract, and will have swings and ‘spring’ riders carved out of natural trees.

“What’s interesting about the facility’s design is the tilt-up concrete. The panels are earth-tone and beige-colored concrete, tilting outward by 5 to 10 degrees so it looks like a flower coming up from the ground.”

Workers started building the facility in June 2008.

The Seven Trees project will expand the library to nearly three times its current size.

Palo Alto-based architect Rob Wellington Quigley designed the Seven Trees project.

Also in the works is the two-story, $17.9-million Bascom Library and Community Center, which calls for a 20,000-sq-ft library and 20,000-sq-ft community center. The center will feature a gym, classrooms, community room, kitchen, fitness center, game room and surface parking lot with 100 spaces. Rob Wellington Quigley also designed the project, which is being built by general contractor John Plane Construction of Brisbane. Construction started in September 2008 and is expected to conclude by August 2010.

The $6.7-million refurbishing and expansion of the East San Jose Carnegie Branch Library began in February 2008 and was slated for completion in August. Designed by project architect Gould Evans Baum Thornley Inc. of San Francisco, the single-story historic library was swelled from 7,281 to 12,000 sq ft. It features a new group study area, storytelling area, community room and parking lot with 17 spaces. Farotte Construction of Gilroy served as general contractor.

Also completed in August was the Santa Teresa Branch Library project, an $8.8-million expansion effort with BRCO Constructors Inc. of Loomis serving as general contractor and STUDIOS Architecture of San Francisco as project architect. Begun in March 2008, the project included expanding the 13,860-sq-ft facility to 22,000 sq ft. Group study and storytelling areas and a community room were added, along with an 80-space parking lot.