Pratt City Library: Difference between revisions
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The library was heavily damaged during the [[April 2011 tornado outbreak]]. Librarians removed most of the materials before they were lost to the elements. Those that had been exposed to water were cleaned and dried by a professional contractor. It was initially presumed that the structure itself was unsalvageable, but engineering studies determined that much of the building could be safely restored and reused. | The library was heavily damaged during the [[April 2011 tornado outbreak]]. Librarians removed most of the materials before they were lost to the elements. Those that had been exposed to water were cleaned and dried by a professional contractor. It was initially presumed that the structure itself was unsalvageable, but engineering studies determined that much of the building could be safely restored and reused. | ||
Fusion Architecture of Baton Rouge, Louisiana was selected by Mayor [[William Bell]]'s office to provide construction documents for restoration and renovations, including a new safe room for severe weather. The $120,000 contract was rejected by the [[Birmingham City Council]] after [[Valerie Abbott]] asked why Davis Architects and other local firms weren't considered for the project. | Fusion Architecture of Baton Rouge, Louisiana was selected by Mayor [[William Bell]]'s office to provide construction documents for restoration and renovations, including a new safe room for severe weather. The $120,000 contract was rejected by the [[Birmingham City Council]] after [[Valerie Abbott]] asked why Davis Architects and other local firms weren't considered for the project. [[Herrington Architects]] completed the design work for the renovated library, which was dedicated on [[December 19]], [[2013]]. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:2nd Street Pratt City]] | [[Category:2nd Street Pratt City]] | ||
[[Category:1993 buildings]] | [[Category:1993 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:2013 buildings]] | |||
[[Category:Herrington Architects buildings]] | |||
[[Category:Hibernian Street]] | [[Category:Hibernian Street]] | ||
[[Category:Dugan Avenue]] | [[Category:Dugan Avenue]] | ||
[[Category:April 2011 tornado outbreak]] | [[Category:April 2011 tornado outbreak]] | ||
Revision as of 17:32, 19 December 2013
The Pratt City Library (or Birmingham Public Library Pratt City Branch) is a branch of the Birmingham Public Library located at 1100 Hibernian Street on the corner of Dugan Avenue in the North Pratt neighborhood of Pratt City.
The original Pratt City Library was located in the former Pratt City Hall in 1921. That facility was repaired and restored by crews from the Civil Works Administration in 1934. A dedicated building was constructed at 820 2nd Street, in 1963. A new library opened at the present site on September 12, 1993. The 8,140 square foot facility was designed by Davis Architects and constructed for $650,000. The library houses the Pratt City Historical Archives with displays of local artifacts and its children's library features a mock streetcar and other reminders of Pratt City's history. The library also has a 75-seat community meeting room and a conference room available by reservation.
The library was heavily damaged during the April 2011 tornado outbreak. Librarians removed most of the materials before they were lost to the elements. Those that had been exposed to water were cleaned and dried by a professional contractor. It was initially presumed that the structure itself was unsalvageable, but engineering studies determined that much of the building could be safely restored and reused.
Fusion Architecture of Baton Rouge, Louisiana was selected by Mayor William Bell's office to provide construction documents for restoration and renovations, including a new safe room for severe weather. The $120,000 contract was rejected by the Birmingham City Council after Valerie Abbott asked why Davis Architects and other local firms weren't considered for the project. Herrington Architects completed the design work for the renovated library, which was dedicated on December 19, 2013.
References
- Ruisi, Anne (June 1, 2011) "Pratt City library, archive items survive storm." The Birmingham News
- Kelley, Michael (May 2, 2011) "Alabama libraries report heavy damage from recent storms" Library Journal
- Wolfson, Hannah (October 18, 2011) "Plans on hold to rebuild Birmingham library branch destroyed by tornado." The Birmingham News
External links
- Birmingham Public Library Pratt City Branch web page
- photographs of tornado damage at Flickr.com