Officials with the Edmonton Public Library are looking into a multi-million dollar upgrade and facelift to their downtown location.
Plans for a $56 million interior and exterior upgrade to the Stanley Milner Library, on the south edge of Churchill Square, are in the works.
The library was built in 1967, and officials said the structure is sound, but the CEO of the library said there are still a number of issues with the building that need to be addressed.
“The main goal is that we meet the building code, that we remove the asbestos that’s on the fourth, fifth and sixth floors, as well as adding a beautiful façade,” CEO Linda Cook told CTV News.
Officials also said the building needs insulation upgrades, it’s believed upgrades would save about $175,000 in energy costs annually.
The design, by Edmonton-based Architecture ATB and Toronto’s Teeple Architects, was chosen from a total of 14 submissions.
The renovation plans will be brought before City Council in the coming months.
“I don’t think we’ll have all the funds,” Councillor Bev Esslinger said. “I think they’re going to have to get creative and look at private and other options as well.
“I’d certainly love to support this.”
Library officials said they’re looking at other ways to pay for the upgrades.
A report on the plans is set to go before council in October – if funding is approved, construction would start in 2015, and it’s estimated it would take three years to complete.
With files from Veronica Jubinville
