Construction Update
September 2025
Saskatoon’s new central library is set to open at 321 2nd Avenue North in 2027. This transformative facility will enhance the livability of Saskatoon for residents of all ages and have positive social, cultural and economic impacts that will be realized for generations. The new central library promises to enhance the quality of life for everyone who calls Saskatoon home by making possible a wide range of innovative learning and entertainment possibilities, creating community connection and enhancing civic pride.
We can’t wait to welcome you.
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
Construction of the new library is progressing as planned, and the library is beginning to take shape! The four-level core concrete structure that supports the back of the library is now complete. Work on the steel frame interior is underway, and we’ve reached a major milestone as the impressive mass timber structure that comprises most of the public space in the library is now visible on the site.
VIEW CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
The final renderings of your new central library are now available to explore! Check out the new images of many exciting new spaces, including the reading nest and the art lab in the children’s library, the audio and video production studios, the gaming space, a learning kitchen, makerspace and, of course, more books!
We’re also excited to share with you the exterior site plan, which features plants native to Saskatchewan enveloping an outdoor programming space and community amenities such as bike parking, bike repair, and a three-season water fountain/bottle-filling station.
Moving inside, there’s even more to look forward to! As you will see from the updated floor plans, Level 1 is home to The Gallery and Large Events Space and provides easy access to the New & Popular Collection. Level 2 has the Children’s Library, Innovation & Creation Spaces and the Teen Library. Level 3 is primarily the Adult Non-Fiction Collection, as well as the new Bookable Meeting Rooms and another Event Space. Level 4 houses the Adult Fiction Collection, Local History, a beautiful Storytelling Circle and a new Auditorium. Seating and study areas, as well as public computers, are available throughout the library to take advantage of natural light and beautiful views.
How does the new library compare to the current central library? There is a 50% increase in programming spaces, a 40% increase in the collection, and a 50% increase in seating. We have also added free bookable rooms for small group study, along with more public computers and many exciting new learning and innovation spaces and services.
PROJECT BUDGET
The tendering process for the new central library has now been completed and the project budget remains within SPL’s available funding sources. The final budget, which includes all construction project costs, contingencies, taxes and anticipated impacts from tariffs, is $150 million. To address the budget increase, additional resources were drawn from the library’s capital reserve funds to ensure there are no new library levy increases to fund the capital construction project. We have been diligently saving for a new central library as a community for over 15 years. Between 2009 and 2026, the library levy had scheduled incremental increases. In the final year of the funding plan (2026), the average homeowner will see an increase of $1.60/year for the library levy related to this capital project.
Budget Notes:
- The final project budget includes all associated expenditures, including the land purchase; all design, remediation, and construction; engineering; project management and other consulting fees; furniture, fixtures, and equipment; and assumes all contingencies and allowances are fully exhausted.
- Assumes 100% of the approximately $8 million in remaining contingency funds are fully exhausted.
- Includes a potential tariff impact allowance of approximately $3 million.
The final project budget represents a 12% increase from the initial budget estimate of $134 million. Since 2019, project costs have risen due to inflation and supply chain disruptions following the COVID pandemic. Through an aggressive redesign process over the last 18 months, we collaborated with our general contractor and team of architects, engineers, suppliers and local trades to reduce the construction cost by over $25 million from the lowest bid we received in 2023. More recently, the project has been under significant financial pressure from US tariffs.
We are currently working to validate the estimated $2.3 million increase in operating expenses that has been factored into the original funding plan.
We remain committed to rigorous cost control and ensuring that we maximize the community’s investment in the new central library. If you have questions or would like to share your thoughts on the new central library, please contact us at hello@saskatoonlibrary.ca.