Walla Walla officials review library renovation designs, fundraising plan; $6 million left to raise

Walla Walla — At a Walla Walla City Council work session on Monday, Feb. 10, library representatives and the project's architects gave council members an update on schematic designs for a renovation of the 55‑year‑old Walla Walla Public Library and outlined a capital campaign to pay for the work.

Heather Preston, library staff, opened the presentation: “Thank you. We're super excited to be here tonight to give you an update on the library renovation project.” The architects from Building Work showed plans that center on a new, highly visible entry called the “Great Hall,” interior reconfiguration to move staff work areas to one side, seismic and envelope upgrades, and building‑wide systems improvements.

The project team said the library is in the schematic‑design phase and aims to complete design and documentation roughly one year from now, with a target grand reopening in early 2027. Kate Weiland, a partner at Building Work, told the council she has worked on more than 20 libraries in Washington and that the…