La Casa del Libro
Location: Old San Juan, PR
Total Size: 12,600 SF
Year: 2014
Status: Completed
Construction Cost: $900,000
Owner: Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
This project is a renovation and construction project of a historic institutional museum called “Casa del Libro” located on Calle Del Cristo #256 and #257 at Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Our office provided services such as design support, field inspections, project management, pre-construction planning, value engineering, and Construction Contract Administration. The building renovation project encompasses 13,200 square feet. Previous to the renovation the building had been closed for several years and had extensive maintenance problems. We successfully completed this pinpoint restoration maintaining a very limited budget.
The first phase consisted of the environmental mitigation work, including the removal and containment of asbestos and lead in the premises, and the rebuilding of the floor of room 206. The second phase entailed the renovation of the interior of the building, including the repair and change of the rotted wooden roof beams on the second floor. All of the woodwork in the building, like balustrades, trims, handrails, and doors, was repaired or replaced. The electrical system was corrected and the connection to the city grid upgraded. The mechanical system was replaced or repaired according to the condition of the units. A new cool roof was installed, and the building was painted and finished.