Politics & Government

Wheaton Library, Recreation Center Project Nears Design Phase Start

Volunteer representatives from three advisory boards will meet regularly with the architects during the design phase.

Montgomery County is almost ready to begin the design phase for the combination Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center project on Georgia Avenue.

"We're just bringing our architect on board," said Ernest Lunsford, division chief for Building Design and Construction in the Department of General Services.

The county has chosen Grimm + Parker Architects to design what will be the county's first combined facility for a library and recreation center.

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Lunsford said Grimm + Parker is "ideally situated" for the project because the firm has experience designing both libraries (Rockville Memorial Library) and recreation centers (White Oak Community Recreation Center) for the county.

But before design can begin, the county's libraries and recreation departments must finalize their programs of requirement for how they want to use the space.

Find out what's happening in Wheatonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"That's just about done," Lunsford said.

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Lunsford anticipates that the design phase, including design review, will take 20 months. During this process, volunteer representatives from the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board, the Wheaton Library Advisory Committee, and the Mid-County Recreation Advisory Board will meet with the design team.

Lunsford said these meetings will take place every two weeks during the concept development phase and every four weeks during the schematic design and design development phase.

Grimm + Parker is expected to present design schemes and ask for community input at design charrettes this spring. Although the dates for these charrettes have not yet been set, Lunsford said they will occur on "a regular basis."

Read more articles on Patch about the library and recreation center project in Wheaton:

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- County Chooses to Expedite Wheaton Library Design

- Wheaton Library Supporters Oppose Budget Delays



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