Building Problems Delay New Library Opening

It will be at least another three or four months before residents of Laguna Niguel will be able to use their new library because of problems with the building's foundation.

The company that poured the concrete—Ed Rose Construction—has requested that the county withhold funds for the job from the general contractor—SMC Construction—until the dispute is resolved.

Robert Genzel, county library construction director, said the problems primarily involve the leveling and the sloping of the foundation. And in some areas, the foundation is too wide and in others, it's too narrow. 

Genzel said the problems with the foundation may be related to the heavy rains last winter.

“I do think it had something to do with the excessive rain, but the general contractor who was supervising the project [SMC Construction] should have caught those problems and corrected for them before the slab was poured,” Genzel said.

Genzel said Ed Rose Construction would have the opportunity to correct the problems with the foundation and get paid for its work.

The bonding company responsible for financial oversight of the project, Fidelity and Deposit Co. of Maryland, has decided to hand the general contract over to Tutor-Perini to finish the job. Genzel said the company is in the process of signing contracts with all of the subcontractors over the next week. Construction on the project should resume within three or four weeks.

Genzel is anticipating a new completion time of three to four months from now, which would set the opening in late winter or early spring.

According to Genzel, the new general contractor, Tutor-Perini, is working well with SMC Construction to conduct as smooth a transition as possible.