Regina Public Library begins search for new central branch location

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The Regina Public Library (RPL) is moving forward with plans to build a new central branch in the city’s downtown, issuing a call for developers with potential location options.

An Expression of Interest (EOI) was published on SaskTenders on Thursday, seeking developers interested in partnering with RPL, in order to identify viable locations for a replacement central branch.

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“It is a multi-piece thing. It’s location, and there’s also a financial piece as well,” said library director and CEO Jeff Barber.

He called it an “invitation to developers” to share options on the market that might align with the central branch’s purpose, “and then we will look at which of those might fit us.”

Issuing the tender confirms that no decision has been made yet to build the new branch on the same lot the current building stands, despite confusion among city councillors last fall.

Previous reports that have come before the board in the past have noted this is the “preferred” option, but a different location remains on the table.

“A lot of the work has been done, in the analysis of options, but what this process is doing is taking that next step,” said Barber. “We know time has passed, that the economy has changed, that the market has changed, and so now we take that to a practical piece of what’s actually out there.”

The terms of the now open EOI will only be considering downtown properties, however, as Barber said, RPL remains firm the branch must be in the city’s core.

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“We’re trying to look at the central library, not only as a public library service that’s great for the city and provides a lot of potential and a lot of opportunities for innovation, but also as a catalyst for growth of downtown,” said Barber.

“We know what a central library can do for a city,” he continued. “A public library has the best economic benefit to a city (and) so getting to a decision to move forward is a big deal.”

Beginning the search for a site is the first step of many, said Barber. The EOI will remain open until April 5. RPL will then consider submissions, with the intention of making a selection by summer.

From there, the project moves forward into the design phase and ensuing public engagement, and plans on relocating all of the central branch’s materials and services will be firmed up.

Previous plans for the library to move to a temporary space by fall of 2024 are on hold, until a decision on a new location is made.

“If that decision is made, that we actually have to (relocate), we could not do it that quickly,” Barber said.

RPL did search for a temporary space, but Barber said the unique space and engineering needs a library requires was a complicating factor.

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“When you walk into a public library, the floor is engineered to hold more hold more weight than a normal building, so that’s really hard to find. What we found, in looking, was that there wasn’t much available.”

Starting demolition by 2025, mentioned in past reports on the project, is also no longer a realistic target, as there are “a number of steps to figure out first,” said Barber.

“A new Central Library would take you 18 months to two years just to design,” Barber said. “We’re at five to six years, between a site decision and opening the front door.”

A relocation is guaranteed, however, as the shifting project timelines hasn’t changed the roof and mechanical system issues that are the entire impetus for building a new library.

“Those risks and failure of those systems, especially electrical and the boiler, without long-term planning hasn’t really gone away,” Barber said.

“We know that we have to keep moving forward.”

lkurz@postmedia.com

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