Location:
St. Paul, MN
Project Cost:
$7.3 M
Completion:
2014
Services:
Civil Engineering
Structural Engineering
The Highland Park Community Center, now described as a ‘beacon’ overlooking Highland Village in St. Paul has been amazingly transformed. In the design phase the library entrance was highlighted as the greatest area of need. With that, a new first floor entrance was created, along with a conversion of the on-grade lower level parking under the building, to generate more functioning library space.
The Highland Park Library needed to accommodate demographics and building usage changes. The space was re-designed to accommodate a convenient express center for unloading books and materials or picking up reserved items without entering the main library on the next level. Conference rooms for community meetings were also in need; specifically space that is available when the library is closed. The teen center, expanded children’s center and 20 computer terminals with a shared table to plug in devices all speak to the specific needs of the Highland Park neighborhood.
Clark Engineering worked with the project team on initial topographic survey, civil engineering, structural engineering and construction staking. Our site civil engineering team designed an underground storm management system, drainage, which ultimately accommodated the outdoor reading garden; increased building accessibility including adding parking spaces which eased the parking constraints the site posed prior to the renovation.
The Clark Engineering structural engineering team had some intricate details to sort through to accomplish the goals set forth with this addition. Our team worked closely with LSE Architects to remove portions of the existing concrete second floor framing to create a two-story open air space within the library. In addition, Clark Engineering’s team designed the reinforcing on the exterior of the existing building for a screened tower, which further adds to the building’s presence on Ford Parkway.
