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Firm that Modernized Gleason
Picked to Rebuild Library
Team May Also
Plan Performing Arts Center
The library was damaged in 2005 when Hurricane Wilma
struck. Photo courtesy of Miami-Dade County
“All of the firms that responded have done
excellent work.”
By Randy
Abraham
The
Aventura City Commission, during its Jan. 9 meeting, chose a design
team to reconstruct a library mauled by Hurricane Wilma.
The team
of PGAL and William Rawn Associates was picked over four
other firms to rebuild the Miami-Dade County Public Library System’s
Northeast Regional Branch at 2930 Aventura Blvd. The library was
undergoing renovations in 2005 when Hurricane Wilma struck, severely
damaging the structure.
If city
officials agree to combine the project with a proposal to construct
a performing arts center on top of it, the PGAL/William Rawn team
will handle that project as well. The mayor and commissioners are
expected to receive a feasibility study and proposed business plan
for a performing arts center and will discuss it at a workshop
meeting scheduled for 9 a.m., Jan. 24.
Commissioners selected PGAL/William Rawn from five other firms
ranked by a review committee made up of City Manager Eric Soroka,
city department heads and representatives from the county and the
library system. Nine firms in November responded to a city request
for proposals (RFP), said Soroka, who added that he was impressed by
the quality of the responders.
“All of
the firms that responded have done excellent work,” he said.
Soroka
said he and committee members focused on the firms’ ability to
develop both library and performing arts center projects. The
winning firm was involved in art center projects such as the city of
Sunrise Civic/Cultural Arts Center, the Florida Atlantic University
Dorothy Schmidt Arts and Humanities Center in Boca Raton, and the
modernization of the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach. They
also recently designed for libraries in Broward County and five in
Palm Beach County.
At a
future date city officials will schedule a public meeting, possibly
in the evening, to gather input on the proposed performing arts
center from residents. A feasibility study and proposed business
plan for the arts center should be posted on the city Web site (www.cityofaventura.com)
by the end of the week, said Soroka. He added the study states that
a performing arts center would require an annual city subsidy of
$200,000, but would not require an increase in property taxes to
offset.
Last
spring Aventura officials, growing impatient with the county’s lack
of progress in renovating the library, received Miami-Dade County’s
permission to take over the stalled project. Since then, city
officials also began looking into the feasibility of building a
performing arts center, and may combine the projects.
A
temporary library will remain in the Government Center until a
permanent library can be built.
At Mayor
Susan Gottlieb’s request, Soroka updated city officials on other
ongoing city projects. The eastern portion of the Miami Gardens
Drive extension from Biscayne Boulevard eastward into the Williams
Island area began a few weeks ago, and the western portion of the
project is slated to begin in about a week. Soroka said plans call
for the road extension to be completed by September. Also, drainage
work for a planned splash pad water feature at Founders Park has
been completed, and work should be finished by Labor Day.
Comments?
E-mail
letters@miamisunpost.com.
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