Joint committee approves project plan for roughly $45 million library renovation

The joint Infrastructure Committee and Library Board of Trustees on Aug. 4 approved a project plan that staff and consultants say will guide schematic design for a roughly $45 million renovation and addition to the downtown library. Director of Administrative Services Tim Cummings said the board-approved option is an "addition" and described the project as "an approximately $45,000,000 project" of about 60,000 square feet.

Cummings told the committee the feasibility study and a subsequent facility assessment shaped the project's scope and program. Joe Sullivan, the owner's project manager for LeftField, said DesignLab (architect) and Consigli (contractor) are leading schematic design and noted a schedule that anticipates a mid-October schematic-design package and continued workshops through September. "All of our work to date is predicated or based off of this work that has been done," Cummings said, describing the feasibility work as the project's foundation.

The committee discussed schedule and funding: Cummings and Sullivan said additional bond authorization will be needed in the fall to fund the remaining design work if the project stays on schedule, and a construction bond would likely follow about a year later. The joint body approved the plan by voice vote; Cummings emphasized that the library trustees retain authority to approve the final design and that the trustees will ratify design decisions before any construction authorization.

Next steps include completing schematic design deliverables, refining cost estimates during late September and early October, and presenting schematic results to trustees for ratification. The committee also directed staff to prepare detailed breakdowns of proposed bond amounts and spending phases for future meetings.