Contracts awarded for new library

Staff report

BOARDMAN

The buildings and sites committee of the board of trustees of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County awarded nearly $3.5 million worth of contracts for the new Michael Kusalaba Branch Library.

The new building will replace the former West Side Library at 2815 Mahoning Ave., which closed April 30.

Construction contracts awarded Thursday were: Brock Builders Inc. of North Lima, general contractor, $2,697,700; JR Warren Electrical Contracting Inc. of New Castle, Pa., electrical, $471,632; Acme Bros. Plumbing Contractors Co. of Leetonia, plumbing, $105,950; and D&G Mechanical Inc., of West Middlesex, Pa., mechanical, $199,710.

The new building will be named the Michael Kusalaba Branch Library, in memory of the electrical engineer and 1964 Chaney High School graduate, who died in 2009.

The new single-story building, scheduled for completion about a year from now, will emphasize technology and feature meeting and study rooms.

The 12,342-square-foot branch will be a neighborhood library and a place to house materials and vehicles for “pop-up” libraries that visit housing projects, schools and community events.

Major funding for the new building is from the Michael Kusalaba Fund of the Youngstown Foundation, which agreed to donate $1.68 million toward the project in exchange for the naming rights.

The library system is debt free and has set aside money for the project. The architect is Faniro Architects of Youngstown.