A publication of the Marek Family of Companies
SPRING 1994
San Antonio’s New Library Reflects the City’s Cultural Diversity According to architects JohnsonDempsey & Associates, who designed San Antonio’s new Main Library, this is a world class building which will become a landmark for the city and the state. The elegant, seven-story library is designed to "speak to all the people of San Anto nio." Courtyards, shade terraces and strong, yet simple geometric forms make a strong design statement. Ground-level plazas invite people to participate in the multi-cultural activities that will take place inside, while the roof terraces, shaded by the sixth floor of the building, complement the climate and give outside spaciousness. Using the theme of sun and shadow to marry the exterior and interior of the building, the architects have de signed the inside to maximize the use of natural light. To accomplish this, the de sign calls for a 100-foot high atrium, barrel-vaulted and domed ceilings in the
reading rooms and mile upon mile of furrdowns. In addi tion, special sound-insulating ceilings in the basement keep the mode of the li brary open yet peaceful. Prior to the onset of this project last summer, key per sonnel from the City of San Antonio, the General Contractors
** " f 'fit The inside of the library combines natural lighting with large open areas and high ceilings.
H.A. Lott, Inc., the Architects and Engineers and all the major subcontractors, including MBS, met for i two-day partnering workshop
Modem geometric designs, terraces and patios will make the new library a San Antonio landmark.
to discuss the job design and manage ment and to build a team approach. Stan Marek, Grady Atnip and Alan Jezek represented MBS at the workshop. Work then began with a strong team of MBS leaders directing the project, including acoustical project manager Mark Wil liams; drywall project manager Alan Jezek; project superintendent Ron At nip; and working closely with the crews, Bobby Mirick, exterior drywall supervi sor; and Darwin Macat, the interior drywall supervisor. With a lot of different design features to accommodate, this project will be keep ing our crews busy for quite some time. On the exterior, we are framing outside walls, while on the inside our crews are installing around 100,000 sq. ft. of differ ent types of ceilings, which include 66,000 sq. ft. of Fineline Reveal Grid, metal studs for the walls, interior shaft wall construction around the elevators and HVAC shaft, escalator walls on the first floor and 30-foot high gypsum board ceilings on the second floor.