Cobb’s main library renovation to cost nearly $6.9M

With nearly $6.9 million in funding from the 2011 and 2016 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), Cobb’s Switzer Library near downtown Marietta is closed for renovation and expansion. (Rendering courtesy of Cobb County and Albion Scaccia Enterprises LLC)

With nearly $6.9 million in funding from the 2011 and 2016 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), Cobb’s Switzer Library near downtown Marietta is closed for renovation and expansion. (Rendering courtesy of Cobb County and Albion Scaccia Enterprises LLC)

The renovation and expansion of Cobb County’s Switzer Library, formerly Central Library, near downtown Marietta will cost no more than $6,882,575.

Funding will come from the 2011 and 2016 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for the library at 266 Roswell St.

The county contract is with Albion Scaccia Enterprises LLC.

The first of two phases cost $1,190,273, amounting to $551,250 for the design, $301,742 for project fee costs and $337,281 for project general conditions costs.

The Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of $6,882,575 includes all construction costs, project contingency and this original contract amount of $1,190,273.

Recently, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted to add $5,692,302 to arrive at the GMP price of $6,882,575.

No new maintenance or operational costs will be needed for the Switzer Library in Fiscal Year 2020.

Now closed, the library will reopen for Limited Services on Sept. 3.

Those services include small collections of adult, youth and media material available for checkout; returns via book drop; hold pickup; account management; small number of public computers; printing; photocopying; 3D printer services; small collection for the Georgia Room with two microfilm readers and phone service.

New features of the renovated library will include:

  • Two maker spaces – one for adults, one for teens
  • Dedicated teen space
  • Family computing space on the main floor
  • New children's programming room
  • Outdoor plaza adjacent to the Children's Room with seating and garden area
  • Relocation to Switzer Library of Windy Hill Library's special needs collection and services
  • Enlarged Georgia Room

Information: cobbcat.org/news-updates/looking-forward