Braun Intertec is proud to be part of the construction team for the new Minneapolis Central Library.

For decades, the Library has stood firm as a focal point of the City’s dedication and commitment to learning and higher education. In 2002, the City of Minneapolis began construction of a new state-of-the-art library that could continue to serve the public well into the future.

The complexity of this facility would require an engineering firm with many years of experience and an overall dedication to address the environmental, geotechnical and construction issues associated with this project.

Challenges

Before the new library could be constructed, environmental investigations and an asbestos evaluation were required on the existing building so that it could be safely demolished.

During installation of the drilled shaft foundation system, our personnel are monitoring the operations for the presence of contaminants. In addition, we are evaluating the bedrock for adequate load bearing capacity. During installation of the drilled shafts, unexpected contamination of soil and bedrock was encountered.

Solutions

We devised a clean-up system for the contaminated soils, groundwater and bedrock. Rapid response laboratory testing helped to quickly identify the magnitude of the contamination and aided in designing an acceptable disposal program. As construction continues, we are monitoring the installation of the foundation systems and other structural components.

As part of the construction of the new facility, which is currently underway, we have been working closely with the various contractors to monitor demolition activities and provide needed environmental monitoring during removal of underground fuel tanks and associated piping.

When completed in 2006, the new Central Library will continue to serve as one of the most extensive and complete libraries in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.