Groundbreaking for the new Academy Library occurred on April 1, 1969, with earthwork occupying the next five months. A major part of the work was to lay a thick concrete slab as a base for the building, because of the poor soil conditions of the site. The pad was the single largest pouring of concrete ever done in one day in New Hampshire, according to James B. Harrington, Jr., the general contractor from the H.P. Cummings Construction Company of Ware, Massachusetts.
The original program schedule developed by the contractor for the library covered almost three full years, from April 1969 through January 1971. In fact, the library was not ready for occupancy until November 1971. Despite the additional time needed, the total cost of the project was only $8,000 over the original project cost of $3,360,575.
Major components of the original construction schedule include:
|
2.5 months | |
| Reinforced concrete, beams, slabs, & columns | 6.5 months | |
| Reinforced steel | 6 months | |
| Masonry | 7 months | |
| Cut stone | 7 months | |
| Metals | 5 months | |
| Carpentry and millwork | 5 months | |
| Moisture protection | 2 separate components, for a total of 7 months | |
| Doors, windows, and frames | 8 months | |
| Finish hardware | 6 months | |
| Heating and air conditioning | 20 months | |
| Plumbing | 20 months | |
| Electrical | 20.5 months |