Silver Spring Library Opening Delayed About Six Months

The new Silver Spring Library—located on Wayne Avenue and Fenton Street—is scheduled to open in November 2014 about six months behind schedule, according to David Dise, director of the Montgomery County Department of General Services.

The library’s delayed opening is due to changes in the structural designs, Dise said.

“Originally, we were going to have six or even seven floors [but] we reduced a couple of floors as a cost control issue and we realized they weren’t really needed,” Dise said.

A few other changes that prolonged the opening date included building adjustments to accommodate the future track plan for the Purple Line project and making sure the designs for the cantilevered building were correct.

“Which means that there is one corner, the corner hanging out over the tracks [which] is not supported by a post or pillar. So, [with] that complex design you gotta make sure you got it just right. You only get once chance to do it,” Dise added. The design drawings are complete and have been submitted for permit review to gain approval for construction.

Dise says these changes to the building haven’t increased the project's total cost of $60 million. Of the total, about $30 million will be invested on the construction site including acquisition and preparation of the site, utility work by Pepco and the design and construction of the energy efficient building.

The remaining budget will be allocated to providing the library with computers, its collection of books, furniture, disability services and adult, children and teen materials, among other services.