New designs and renderings revealed for Saskatoon’s downtown library

Construction on Saskatoon’s much-debated downtown public library is well underway, with a new building re-design, and 60 per cent of the construction tendering completed.

The cost of the new library ballooned to more than $152.7 million in 2019.

In 2023, the Saskatoon Public Library (SPL) said construction bids received were “substantially higher” than the project’s budget allowed.

As a result, the tender was cancelled and the library delayed the project.

New artist rendering of the exterior of the new Saskatoon Public Library. (Submitted)

The new total for the library, including all costs is $134 million. According to a news release, so far, the construction tenders awarded “have been at or below the budget allocation for each package.”

In a news release, Carol Shepstone, CEO, said she’s thrilled with the new design.

“Saskatoon’s new central library will be a truly transformative project for our city, and I’m proud that the project team has been able to significantly reduce costs while maintaining the project’s original vision of honouring Indigenous perspectives and providing a vibrant hub for learning and entertainment in the heart of downtown,” she said.

A rendering side view of the new public library. (Submitted)

Some of the changes to the four-story building include a reduction in the size of the facility, from about 136,000 square feet to 124,860 sq. ft.

Inside the building,  the basement was removed, the raised-access floor was removed, a staircase connecting the third and fourth floors was removed, and support services employee workspaces were taken from the scope of the project.

Windows will be double pane rather than triple pane, a mass timber structure won’t be in the employee areas. Instead, there will be a concrete structure.

Landscaping has been simplified, and the back of the building facade will be metal-clad, rather than limestone.

After a 10-month delay, Ledcor Construction was chosen for pre-construction and construction services. The library is now expected to open sometime in 2027.

A final construction and budget update is expected once 100 per cent of the tenders have been awarded.

Updated renderings can be seen here.