Temple University’s new library is on the rise, but Temple’s construction manger, Dozie Ibeh, says getting here wasn’t an easy process.
Construction began on the library last year… But then complications slowed their progress. The original design included concrete, which put the project over budget.
“Thats why I say it’s an iterative process. You establish a budget you design a building. You get out of the market what the market tells you and as a department, you have to adjust accordingly.”
To adjust, they changed the library’s structure from concrete to steel…saving the university ten million dollars, as well as changing how they’re installing glass.
These adjustments put the project back on track.
“We’re very optimistic that we’ll meet our schedule, but its still construction and anything can happen,” admitted Ibeh. “What you’ve been observing in our business is that it takes a long time to get out of the ground. You’re observing a lot of waterproofing a lot of foundation walls.”
Currently, the Book Vault is being constructed, and the walls are going up, letting students catch a glimpse of the work being done behind the fence.
One thing’s for sure: it can only go up from here.
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