Pile Driving at Schaffer to Last Three More Weeks

Crews on Wednesday began driving the first of the 134 piles that will connect the new addition of Schaffer Library to bedrock 12 feet below, according to William Shafer, capital projects manager.

About a dozen piles from the 1974 addition were extracted earlier this week.

The pile-driving phase is expected to last about three weeks, and produce a loud, rhythmic noise that will be audible for some distance. Piles set close to the 1961 structure will be pre-drilled to avoid having vibration close to the building, Shafer said.

Meanwhile, a contract for construction of the F.W. Olin Center was to be awarded shortly, Shafer said on Wednesday. Bids for the project were within budget, he noted.