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About the Central Library Project
On September 11, 2010, work began on on our exciting Central Library project with the official groundbreaking ceremony. scheduled to begin in fall of 2010 The $40 million project will see the complete renovation of all three floors of the existing Main Library located at 85 Queen Street North, along with the construction of a new 25,000 square foot addition to the rear of the building. To better accommodate parking needs for the library and our Civic District partners, the project will also include the construction of a 412 space, three-level underground parking garage.
The current Main Library is nearly fifty years old and was originally built to serve a population of about 70,000 people. Today, the Main Library not only serves a growing Kitchener population in excess of 200,000 people, but also provides collection and administrative support to four community libraries; with a fifth community library anticipated to be built by 2019.
Our renovated and expanded Central Library will provide much needed space for our current collections and services, and enable us to accommodate for future growth. In keeping with ever-increasing environmental concerns, our new building will also be constructed to the highest standards of energy efficiency.
Although our renovation and expansion project will take approximately 2 ½ years to complete, the Main Library on Queen Street will remain open for business throughout our construction period. The first phase of construction will include the construction of the underground parking garage behind the library, followed by the construction of the new two-storey library addition. Once this first phase is completed, we will provide ongoing library service from our new addition while renovations are made to the original portion of the library during phase two of the construction project.
Central Library Project History
The need for a new library to meet the community’s growing demand for library resources and services was first identified in 1999. The current library was built in 1962 and no longer adequately meets the needs of Kitchener’s estimated 213,305 residents.
The Kitchener Public Library commissioned a series of studies and assessments of the Main Library and solicited public feedback regarding a new Central Library from 2000 – 2003.
In September 2004, the Kitchener Public Library presented City Council with a business case documenting the need for a new Central Library. An improved and expanded Central Library would allow KPL to address the need for:
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Space for Services and Programs
The format and display of collections and library resources continues to change and space allocations must be flexible to accommodate new and expanded services and programs.
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Services for Teens and Children
Crowded and outdated areas for teens and children work against the changing role of the public library as a desired destination.
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Accessibility
The current Main Library meets the minimum requirements of the building code but does not reach the standards indicated in the City of Kitchener’s Accessibility Plan. The new Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act will introduce customer service regulations that will challenge the library’s accessibility standards.
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Ambience
A library can provide access to wonderful collections, programs, and services, but if the atmosphere is not inviting and comfortable, people will not visit and linger.
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Building and Technology Infrastructure
The Main Library is now a 45 year old building with aging building and mechanical systems. The technology needs of a modern library are challenged by an inflexible technology infrastructure.
2005
The City of Kitchener committed up to $32.5 M towards the construction of a new Central Library. KPL contracted with Levitt Goodman Architects and Phillip Carter Architect to finalize the Library Building Program, to prepare conceptual drawings for a new Central Library, and to provide a cost estimate for the project.
May 2006
The City of Kitchener held a Centre Block Citizen Forum to solicit public feedback on the development of the Centre Block. There was support for an “improved and enhanced central library”. Members of the Citizen’s Forum did agree that “the library needs support and an enhancement of services”:
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A strong central library is critical
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Library services need to be expanded
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There needs to be a redefinition of what a library is ... to include a broad offering of services
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A strong central library is the anchor to a strong branch system.
The community expressed support for an expanded and improved Main Library on the current site.
2007
KPL initiated a study with Levitt Goodman Architect to assess to what degree the existing Main Library building and site could meet KPL’s future space and functional requirements. After careful study and evaluation of the current Main Library facility and site, the architect’s findings indicate:
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There is space on the existing library site to expand
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A renovated and expanded Main Library can meet the space and functional requirements identified by the library and community
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Adding additional library space will allow for services, collections and programs to be reorganized and expanded.
October of 2008
Kitchener City Council approved the Library’s recommendation for a complete renovation of the Main Library on Queen street, including a 25,000 square foot addition.
March of 2009
Finance and Corporate Services of the City of Kitchener announced a joint parking venture in relation to the Kitchener Public Library renovation and expansion project. This parking structure will be a joint initiative between the City of Kitchener, the Kitchener Public Library, the Region of Waterloo, and the Province of Ontario. The shared parking structure will help meet the parking needs of all the partners involved and will build on the draft vision developed through public feedback for the Civic District.
May of 2009
Following an open competition, Kitchener City Council approved awarding the contract for consulting and design services for the Main Library project and joint parking garage to Levitt Goodman Architects in association with The Walter Fedy Partnership and Phillip H Carter Architect.
June - October 2009
In June the Central Library project entered the “Design” phase. Kitchener Public Library staff and the architect team worked closely to develop conceptual and schematic designs for a renovated and expanded Library and parking garage on the Queen Street property. The goal was to have visual designs available for public view early in November.
November 2009 – Present
Schematic designs of the Central Library renovation and expansion project and underground parking complex were completed and two public Open House events were arranged to share the designs and get public feedback. One Open House event was hosted at the Main Library on Queen Street, and the second Open House took place at the Kitchener Market. Hundreds of Kitchener residents took the opportunity to view our designs and provide feedback. Our schematic designs, along with feedback forms, where on display at the Main Library through to the end of December. The detailed design phase was completed early in 2010.
March 2010
Artists and artist teams were invited to submit professional qualifications and a letters of interest as a first stage in the two-stage Kitchener Public Library Public Art Competition. The competition was open to professional artists/artist teams with experience in creating site responsive permanently installed public art projects.
The deadline for first stage submissions clsoed on March 30, 2010
June 2010
On Tuesday, June 29th from 4 to 7 pm, the public was invited to attend a special public information session to learn more about the library project, including:
* Library and Garage Designs
* Landscaping Plans
* Vehicular & Pedestrian Access
* Construction Phasing
* Library Fundraising Plans
* Urban Square Concepts
Information display boards where on display outlining the intended work and staff from the library, the city and the consulting team where available to answer questions.
Nearly 100 people came to the Main Library to learn more about the development of a 412-space, three-level underground parking garage and the expansion and renovation of the Kitchener Public Library Main Branch located at 85 Queen Street North.
September 2010
Official Groundbreaking Ceremony
Construction “officially” began with our ceremonial groundbreaking event that took place on Saturday, September 11th at 12:00 noon.
Hundreds of people took the opportunity to be part of KPL’s history, including local dignitaries Mayor Carl Zehr, Regional Chair Ken Seiling, and MPP John Milloy. Members of KPL's Board and Foundation were also there, along with representatives from our architect team, engineers and contractors. A large number of KPL staff were on hand to witness the event, with several staff members attending on their day off, bringing along their family members!
Speeches were presented, hard hats were donned, ground was ceremonially broken and there were cake & cookies for everyone. The kids had fun too, making their very own tool-belts!
All in all, a great way to start our project!
Watch a video of our groundbreaking ceremony.
Ongoing
Central Library Project Blog
Through our project blog, citizens can share their thoughts or concerns with our project team and the community. Post a comment on the Central Library Project blog or email comments or questions directly to our project team. Send your emai comments to: kitchenerpubliclibrary@kpl.org.