The 'new' Tysons library still has leaks

 

At the Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library today/Photo by Patricia Leslie

When visiting the Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, library users need more than a library card.  They need umbrellas, towels, and galoshes, too.

 

Two and a half months later and the "new and improved" Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library still has leaks.

This is after an earlier round of leaks was discovered at the library in July. Then the library had been open only nine months after a $5.6 million renovation had kept it closed for almost two years.

At the Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library today/Photo by Patricia Leslie

A staff member told me when the library crew arrived at work this morning, they discovered water dripping on copiers and other equipment, causing some of the ceiling to collapse, meeting rooms to close, and the halt in customer copying.

"Don't worry, it will be fixed tomorrow," said the staffer, but who pays?  Insurance is probably adequate, but what about the designer and builder of the library? What does this do to insurance rates? What part of this bill lands in the taxpayers' wallets?

 

At the Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library today/Photo by Patricia Leslie

If you were planning a tutoring session today at the Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, you needed galoshes and towels inside this meeting room and maybe some gloves to pick up debris/Photo by Patricia Leslie

The Tenley-Friendship library in D.C. has had leaks, too, but the second leak at Tysons in under three months?  Come on!

In addition to books, periodicals, computers, and reference help, this library always has on hand huge supplies of heavy-duty plastic and caution tape.  

Be careful, the ceiling tiles you trip over may have asbestos.  Oh, that's right.  It's not used any more.

Maybe it's a new way to build libraries with leaks so refurbishment (planned obsolescence) is unceasing. 

(Since I do not want you to think ill of me, Mr. Builder and Mr. Designer, I do not mean to state or think the unthinkable, the impossible.  Just a little drip of humor, I insert.)

patricialesli@gmail.com

Update! The new Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library has leaks...and plastic

The east side of the Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library with wild, plastic sprouts growing from the roof/Photo by Patricia Leslie

(Update: Two months later, and the Tysons Library is still leaking!)

Looks like something's blowing in the wind, and it's not trees at the newly renovated Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library.  Those are big pieces of plastic waving like flags from the roof, placed and plastered all around to stop leaks at the library which has not been open a year since its grand re-opening last October.  

The library was closed for almost two years for a $5.6 million renovation.  

Project architect, Leo Salom, led the team from
Ritter-Norton of Alexandria on the overhaul. The general contractor was Branch and Associates.

From the locations of the plastic, it looks like leaks have sprung all over.  The staff was reluctant to talk about the raindrops which keep falling on their heads, however, they did say more than one leak has been discovered.  These pictures were taken last Saturday during a dry spell and two days before Monday's rainfall.

I certainly hope the roof is under warranty and that Fairfax County taxpayers are not burdened with the cost of roof repair and/or replacement at the leaky library.

The west side of the Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library with more plastic sprouts growing from the roof/Photo by Patricia Leslie

patricialesli@gmail.com