Cortez Library receives new facelift

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    Twenty-nine years later, the Cortez Library, located at 2803 Hunter Blvd., received well-deserved repairs and renovations due to a 2007 voter-approved bond package and community development grant funds.

The project was awarded to general contractor, 3TI, Inc., and project architect, Alvidrez Architecture, Inc. Jake Trinidad and Kelly Rancher served as project manager and superintendent, respectively for 3TI. Kapil Khana served as the project architect for Alvidrez Architecture, and Bill Hensley, AIA, was the architect representing the City of San Antonio.

“We have a great relationship with the owner and architect,” said Trinidad. “We’ve worked well with both for quite some time now.”

The 9,000-sf library received a new front entrance upgrade, expansion and renovation to the library meeting room, carpet replacement, interior painting, new air conditioning units, new landscaping, sidewalks, seating walls, new exterior signage and lighting, and resurfacing of the parking lot.

The front entrance to the library was transformed with new glass doors, as well as surrounding white limestone and glass walls.  Primary construction materials used for other interior and exterior work included structural steel, sheetrock, stone clad, tile and glass.

Even though the project began during one of the worst droughts in San Antonio’s history, the drought finally broke after work on the library began and the project experienced some challenges due to weather delays. Yet, even with the welcomed rain, the project was completed within eight months.

Tracy Trinidad, owner of 3TI, stated the interior was especially challenging due to an architectural feature requiring the lines of the tile floor precisely align to the limestone wall lines, which in turn precisely align to the lines of the ceiling tile.  To ensure this design was flawlessly installed, the architect, Kapil Khana, was hands-on during the installation process.

Adding a little more interest to the project scheduling, the library remained open during the eight-month renovation period.

As a requirement of the project, the library had to remain open to the community during the entire construction process. Given this situation, 3TI’s first priority was to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the public. 3TI built temporary ADA accessible walkways to a temporary entrance. Additionally, safety walls were constructed and dust control measures were implemented to ensure the library remained fully accessible to the community.

Conversely, when the new entrance was completed, 3TI had to de-construct the temporary entrance and walkways, without closing the library – even for one day.

Tracy Trinidad stated, “It was a 24 hour process for us to coordinate the opening of the new entrance and closing of the temporary entrance.

“Mr. Khana and Mr. Hensley were extremely supportive. They dedicated a lot of time to the project and quickly resolved any issues that could have delayed the project.”

Hensley, the city’s architect, was pleased with 3TI’s ability to keep the library open during construction. He said, “They routed the main entry through a back entry of another addition.”

The pièce de résistance of the project was a stunning mural honoring the library’s namesake, Raul A. Cortez. D&E Glass managed the installation of the glass fronts and the unique multi-media mural. Jose Palacio of 3TI oversaw the installation of the stonework.

The mural installation offered its own challenges. Before the mural could be constructed, the wall had to be specially built with different materials in order to create a flat and level surface to apply the mural.

In the end, their attention to detail created a beautiful tribute to the library’s namesake.

Other construction team subcontractors contributing to the project included HSC Electric, Samuel Dean Sheet Metal, Inc., Texas Tile & Stone and Mundo Verde Irrigation & Landscaping.

Once the project was complete the library hosted a rededication ceremony Jun. 9, complete with a ceremonial ribbon cutting by the city and library dignitaries, along with Mark and Tracy Trinidad.

“We wanted to create an inviting and welcoming atmosphere for the public, while honoring the person for whom the library was named,” said Hensley.

Seeing the library first-hand, packed with children and adults, is proof they achieved their goal.

Established in 2000, 3TI, Inc. is a family-owned business with 13 employees. They specialize in new and renovation projects for municipal and government entities in the 12-county Alamo area.  –dn

©2010 Construction News, Ltd.