North Branch Library

[Keith P.]

An article in the C-H today reveals plans to reconstruct the Gottingen St North Branch library at a current estimated pricetag of $33 million. Considering that the palatial designer library on SGR cost just over $50 million not all that many years ago this seems like quite the project. Oddly enough the library management does not seem to know what they will be building as there is no design as yet. That can only mean $33 mil will not be enough money.

Some snips from the C-H:

For 58 years, the library on Gottingen Street has done a lot of heavy lifting in its north-end Halifax neighbourhood but it hasn’t been updated.

Until now.

After several years waiting its turn for capital funding from HRM, the request for interested designers and builders to begin $33-million worth (budgeted over four years) of renovations at the Halifax North Memorial Public Library is active.

This is the first phase of a massive construction project expected to finish in 2028 with a completely redesigned space “to address building condition issues, introduce the highest levels of accessibility and sustainability features, and reimagine the space.”

Brenda, who lives in the neighbourhood and stops in at the library every couple of weeks, said it’s a really important resource for the community.

“The staff is great, the facility is not so great,” said Brenda, who didn't want her last name published. “They need more space so I hope that’s what they’re getting.

“It’s the only place around here for people, bathrooms, just a cool place to be and just somewhere they can hang out.”

Beula Irubayaraj takes her two-year-old son here all the time to play and for the programming.

“It’s quite useful for us,” she said in an interview in front of the library Tuesday.

As for the renos, she said she hopes there will be more space in the children’s area.
Idea is unformed

Beyond the principle of accessibility and sustainability, the specifics will be up to the community and the designers, said Megan Gainer, director of facilities with Halifax Public Libraries.

“The community is really going to tell us what they want and then we’ll make sure that those wants are reflected in the final project,” she said.

Brenda, who lives in the neighbourhood and stops in at the library every couple of weeks, said it’s a really important resource for the community.

“The staff is great, the facility is not so great,” said Brenda, who didn't want her last name published. “They need more space so I hope that’s what they’re getting.

“It’s the only place around here for people, bathrooms, just a cool place to be and just somewhere they can hang out.”

Beula Irubayaraj takes her two-year-old son here all the time to play and for the programming.

“It’s quite useful for us,” she said in an interview in front of the library Tuesday.

As for the renos, she said she hopes there will be more space in the children’s area.
Idea is unformed

Beyond the principle of accessibility and sustainability, the specifics will be up to the community and the designers, said Megan Gainer, director of facilities with Halifax Public Libraries.

“The community is really going to tell us what they want and then we’ll make sure that those wants are reflected in the final project,” she said.

They can’t add much to the footprint of the building but they can do more with the three-story structure than what’s available now, Gainer said.

“That’s all to be determined in the design phase,” she said. “Currently the public part of the branch is about 12,000 square feet and we do have a basement level that’s used for other services and we would look to turn that space into public (space).”

That move alone would double the space (the upper level is a small office space).

“We may or may not need an addition on top of all of that.”

They don’t want to change the exterior too much because it’s a “familiar face in the neighbourhood,” she said, and one of the constants in an area that has seen a lot of change lately.

Hold on to your wallets.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

An article in the C-H today reveals plans to reconstruct the Gottingen St North Branch library at a current estimated pricetag of $33 million. Considering that the palatial designer library on SGR cost just over $50 million not all that many years ago this seems like quite the project. Oddly enough the library management does not seem to know what they will be building as there is no design as yet. That can only mean $33 mil will not be enough money.

I'm honestly shocked that the central library only cost $57 million; I would have thought twice that. (Calgary's new library cost something like $250 million, though it is much larger and more fitted out.)

But also bear in mind that a dollar today buys less than it did when the central library was under construction, now more than a decade ago. $33 million doesn't seem outlandish, particularly if it involves adding more square footage. It's a very well-used and important neighbourhood space, and you could argue that the city has saved a lot of money over the years by not doing needed maintenance on it, which has allowed it to get into pretty rough shape.

[ArchAficionado]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

I'm honestly shocked that the central library only cost $57 million; I would have thought twice that. (Calgary's new library cost something like $250 million, though it is much larger and more fitted out.)

But also bear in mind that a dollar today buys less than it did when the central library was under construction, now more than a decade ago. $33 million doesn't seem outlandish, particularly if it involves adding more square footage. It's a very well-used and important neighbourhood space, and you could argue that the city has saved a lot of money over the years by not doing needed maintenance on it, which has allowed it to get into pretty rough shape.

Yeah, Construction costs in the last decade have risen precipituously. Such a project will have more than doubled in cost, I think.

IMO They would be wise to consider moving the North Branch a little more north to be closer to the faster growing parts of the northern peninsula (On Young St. for example). The current branch must only be about 1km from the central library. But I disgress, when does HRM ever think bigger picture like that!

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by ArchAficionado

IMO They would be wise to consider moving the North Branch a little more north to be closer to the faster growing parts of the northern peninsula (On Young St. for example). The current branch must only be about 1km from the central library. But I disgress, when does HRM ever think bigger picture like that!

That will never happen. The screams of anguish and other far worse cries would be intolerable. And in fairness, it is close to a pretty dense housing area. One can only hope that they do not waste too much money on flights of fancy as our library system tends to do too often.