The Construction Management Association of America’s South Atlantic Chapter (CMAA-SAC) recognized Heery for its outstanding achievement in the practice of construction management at the 2017 CMAA South Atlantic Project Achievement Awards Gala held at Atlanta’s Summerour Studio on June 27. Heery, in joint venture with H.J. Russell & Company, received two Project Achievement Awards for the Auburn Avenue Research Library (AARL) on African American Culture and History in Atlanta, GA.

The project team received CMAA Project Achievement Awards for a renovation / modernization with a constructed value less than $20 Million; and for program management services in a renovation / modernization.

The modernization of the AARL was one of several projects included in the Atlanta-Fulton County Library System’s $167 million Capital Improvement Program. Heery provided construction management services for the 16,000 square foot expansion and 50,000 square foot renovation of the public library, the largest project within Phase I of the Capital Improvement Program. The publicly funded research library and archival facility is the first in the Southeast and one of a few in the United States focused on African American Culture, History and the African Diaspora.

The CM team delivered the community a more efficient library to meet the operational needs of staff and provide better service for patrons. The project includes state-of-the-art technologies and A/V equipment to enhance the patron experience while the sustainable aspects of the modernized building save energy costs through the use of daylighting and occupancy sensors, among other features.

Designed to comply with the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, the project achieved LEED Gold Certification this month. USGBC acknowledges AARL as an environmentally sustainable and efficient building by measures of water efficiency, materials and resources, sustainability sites, indoor environment quality, energy and atmosphere and innovation in design.

On the success of the modernization program for Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System, Interim Director Gayle Holloman said the team “exceeded our expectations in delivering one-of-a-kind libraries that reflect the unique characteristics of the neighborhoods they serve; and the public response has been overwhelmingly positive.”