Town of Lyme
Contact: Janis Witkins FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tel: 860 434-6313
Cell: 860 304-3318
Email: janiswitkins@comcast.net
Lyme hires architects to design Town Campus Center
The Town of Lyme has hired the firm of Tuthill and Wells Architects LLC to develop a schematic design and project cost estimate for a proposed Lyme Town Campus Center.
The contract calls for the firm to design an expanded Lyme Town Hall and Public Library to be built on the current site on Route 156. In 2009, the existing 1.25 acre site was expanded when an abutting 1.4 acres was acquired north of the library. The goal is to tie together the two buildings and the site both functionally and architecturally, creating more of a town center.
The Lyme Town Hall currently resides in a former church building which dates to the early 19th century. The present library building was built in 1971. Both a renovation of the existing buildings and new construction will be considered.
“I look forward to working with Bruce Tuthill and Peter Wells on our project.” said Dan Hagan, chairman of the Lyme Town Center Planning Committee. “They have extensive experience with this type of work and a genuine sense of Lyme – its rural roots, and respect for historical buildings.”
Tuthill and Wells, headquartered in Avon, have experience in designing town offices and libraries, having renovated or built over 45 libraries in Connecticut, including the Old Saybrook, Guilford and Groton libraries.
The choice of Tuthill and Wells began in the summer of 2009 when the Lyme Town Campus Planning Committee began developing a critical needs list for both the town hall and library. The list was presented in a public meeting in November and revised based on citizens’ responses. A request for proposals was issued in June 2010.
From the nineteen proposals submitted, the committee chose three firms to make presentations. In making a final decision, the committee not only considered the proposal documents and the presentations, but members also visited seven libraries that had been built by Tuthill and Wells.
“We are very enthusiastic about this project and anxious to begin the design work.” said Bruce Tuthill of Tuthill and Wells. “Our goal is to restore the historic portion of the Town Hall in conjunction with the development of a new Town Center that will reflect the rural character of Lyme. We look forward to working with the Building Committee on this very unique project.”
The schematic design is expected to take approximately three to four months to complete, and public comment will be welcomed and solicited throughout the process.
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If you would like more information, contact Janis Witkins at 860 304-3318 or at janiswitkins@comcast.net