Published: 02 Dec 2019

Physical works to ensure a better library environment for users will begin this week.

The northern end of the Timaru Library car park will close tomorrow for contractor use as the two month project to get the 40 year old library roof back to a watertight state gets underway.

Over the Christmas holiday period, car park facilities will return to normal.  In January, it can be expected a period of closure to the southern end of the carpark, however the northern end will be fully opened at this stage. During both periods alternative parking is available along Bank Street and in the Farmers Parking Building on Sophia Street.

Scaffolding to enable safe access to the roof will also begin to appear around the roof-top perimeter of the building.

The project will involve localised roof substrate repairs and a dual layer spray membrane on the roof.

These works are expected to ensure the library roof is water-tight for use for at least the next 8-10 years.  The solution favoured has been used on other buildings in the area, and will ensure the roof is watertight going forward.

The roof remediation will be followed by heating, ventilation and specified emergency system upgrades and a refresh of the library interior, as well as the creation of a new community room for groups to use.

Timaru District Libraries Manager Adele Hewlett said it’s fantastic that the library upgrade is getting underway.

“It’s great to see this first step in the upgrade of the library get underway, and aside from the removal of some parking from the northern end of the car park we’re hoping that it will cause as little disruption as possible.

“While much of the current work will be invisible to library customers, it will make a huge difference in the environment of the library, and means we have a sound and watertight building within which we can begin the exciting internal upgrades we had planned.

“We’re aiming to be welcoming people to a warmer and completely refreshed library in Autumn 2020, and get this building back up to its former glory.”

The building, which was designed in the brutalist style in the 70s by New Zealand architect firm Warren and Mahoney, features a complex fan-shaped roof span with minimal interior supports, multiple sky-lights and a specialist cable support system.

The contract for substrate replacement has been awarded to Steven Brooks Building Limited, and the applied seamless water-proofing membrane has been awarded to Roofmasters Christchurch Limited.

Last updated: 24 Feb 2021