Bee Cave selects team for potential library renovation contract

On Aug. 6, a commission including Bee Cave Mayor Caroline Murphy; City Council members Zelda Auslander, Steve Braasch and Kara King; and Library Director Barbara Hathaway, among others, directed City Manager Frank Salvato to negotiate a contract for the Bee Cave Public Library's renovation project with a joint venture team of 720 design Principal Maureen Arndt and pro-forma architecture inc. President Jeff D. Bulla III. Both firms are located in Dallas.

The team presented a plan that includes a two-story design with a focus of enhancing the current building's atrium for better use of space, providing a teen/young adult area, adding to the existing themed children's area and creating flexible meeting spaces.

Bulla said the two firms' experience includes municipal projects as well as libraries, and the team recently renovated the Lago Vista Public Library.

Arndt said that she and Bulla will engage stakeholders in a discussion about what is needed in the library project and analyze the input to develop a solution. She said that library users are seeking faster technology devices and a social scene.

"Even though we're digitally connected, [library users] are still looking for that social, collaborative interaction," Arndt said.

Bulla said the continued operation of the library and the building, which houses City Hall, during the construction is critical.

The team of pro-forma architecture and 720 design was selected ahead of two other candidates, Komatsu Architecture and Hidell and Associates Architects Inc., to determine if a contract can be agreed upon with the City of Bee Cave for the project. If negotiations fail, the city manager will then contact the committee's second choice to begin new contract discussions.