Jones Library topping off ceremony delayed

AMHERST — Inclement weather, such as the powerful winter storm that moved through on Monday, means the topping off ceremony for the Jones Library project is being delayed.

Originally scheduled for Friday afternoon, with a commemorative white-painted steel beam to be available for signing in advance, the event is being put off for one week, according to Lisa DeGrace.

The beam will be placed in the Amity Street parking lot across from the library, and next to the Amherst Cinema, on the morning of March 4, and be there, with attached Sharpies for signing, from 1:30 p.m. that day until 12:30 p.m. on March 6.

The topping off ceremony will take place March 6 at 2:30 p.m., with people to gather behind the Strong House at 67 Amity St.

DeGrace, the development director for the Jones Library Capital Campaign, said the snowfall is putting the steel erection behind schedule.

Fontaine Brothers, Inc. is getting the structural steel in place for the addition that will expand the 43 Amity St. building from 48,000 square feet to 63,000 square feet. But a portion of the steel has yet to be assembled, including for the section of the building that is closest to the back side of the Central fire station and the Tucker Taft Building.

Work also hadn’t started on the connecting steel that will tie the renovated 1928 building, with restored woodwork and fireplaces, to the new addition.

The $46.1 million project is expected to be complete by March 2027, when the library operations return from the temporary leased space at 100 University Drive.

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