Monthly Archives: December 2016

Grand Opening: Great Neck Public Library

Dominic Calgi, Owner's Rep., Mark Foster, VRD Construction, Marietta DeCamillo, President of the Board of Trustees of Great Neck Library and Russell A. Davidson, FAIA President KG+D Architects, PC
Dominic Calgi, Owner’s Rep., Mark Foster, VRD Construction, Marietta DeCamillo, President of the Board of Trustees of Great Neck Library and Russell A. Davidson, FAIA President KG+D Architects, PC

The Great Neck Public Library’s Main Branch officially opened to the public on October 30th after a major renovation of their main branch, generally working within the existing footprint, to support current services and emerging technology. The Great Neck Library Board president, Marietta DiCamillo, said about 600 people, including elected officials, employees and members of the public, attended Sunday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house.

“I have to tell you, it just feels wonderful,” DiCamillo said about the building’s opening. “All along our first and most important thought was providing the community with an excellent building with all new infrastructure and equipment.”

The project goals included: creating more meeting spaces and reading areas, developing an open and user-friendly environment, improving connections between levels of the building, increasing children’s spaces, consolidating staff and technical service areas and updating the building’s infrastructure to be more energy efficient.

Read More: Great Neck Record + The Island Now.

Norwalk Golf Venue Looks to Future Members

Erik Kaeyer, KG+D Architects' Vice President describes Shorehaven Golf Club's newly renovated clubhouse. Shorehaven attributes the rebuild to a resurgence in membership and related bookings.
Erik Kaeyer, KG+D Architects’ Vice President describes Shorehaven Golf Club’s newly renovated clubhouse. Shorehaven attributes the rebuild to a resurgence in membership and related bookings.

In a bid to refresh its appeal — particularly to younger member prospects and organizations considering event space — Shorehaven heads into the golf season’s fallow months with a rebuilt facility, the overhaul led by Mount Kisco, N.Y.-based KG+D Architects and the New Canaan-based landscape architect Wesley Stout Associates.

In addition to the main clubhouse and grounds, the renovations encompassed an enlarged pool pavilion with construction still underway on a new summer youth camp structure. The new facilities were designed in the New England Shingle Style of architecture, according to Erik Kaeyer, a Wilton resident who led the project as design principal and vice president with KG+D.

“Clubs regionally and nationally are seeing a decline in membership, so you are seeing a lot of clubs in the area start to (look) at their infrastructure, at to what they have to do to try and attract new members,” Kaeyer said. “We really wanted to bring the outside in — so big windows. … They wanted to make sure they maxed out on the opportunity (for people) to sit outside, take advantage of the views.”

Dwyer said the redesign is having its intended effect, with nine weddings and six golf outings booked for next year and inquiries coming in daily. For his part, Kaeyer says he will miss his visits to the club to work through the myriad construction challenges of the project, but maintains the members and by extension the city are a better place with a rebuilt Shorehaven along Long Island Sound.

“You look at this club five years ago, the outdoor seating and all that, and you look at it now and it’s an easy sell,” Kaeyer said.

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