Project Update

Our shared underground parking garage is finished!  There are now over 400 parking spaces.  Drive into the garage from Queen Street or Otto Street.  Ahrens Street has also been re-opened to the Region of Waterloo building.

The renovation of the original library building is also nearing completion.  All three levels are undergoing extensive refurbishment, including the construction of a new 5,000 square foot addition to the second level of the library. 

As the project winds down, our excitement is building – we can’t wait to show off our fabulous new space!

 

When renovations are done, the Main Library will once again temporarily close so that we can move into the new space. Watch our website or monitor our social media for details.

 

KPL CEO Sonia Lewis with Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr touring renovation site

Main Library Temporary Closure

On Monday, December 23^rd, 2013, the Main Library will be CLOSED until approximately 4:00 pm due to hydro work.  The Main Library will
re-open again from 4:00 to 9:00 pm. 

All four of KPL’s Community Library locations will remain open as usual on December 23^rd.

Due to the disruption of power at the Main Library, the KPL website, catalog, email and telephone switchboard will not be available on Monday, December 23 from approximately 5:30 am until 4:00 pm. 

Construction Crane Removed

You know we’re making progress when our contractors no longer need the big equipment!   The large orange crane was recently removed from our construction site.

And what a cool process it was! These guys sure know what they’re doing. The entire crane was dismantled, loaded onto flatbed trucks and hauled away in under 4 hours!

Smaller portable cranes will be used, as necessary, for the balance duration of our construction project.

We compressed the time of the crane’s dismantling a little bit for this short video.  

Enjoy!

Request for Proposal: New Central Library Café

The Kitchener Public Library is seeking a vendor to establish and operate a café on the street level of the Central Library at 85 Queen Street North.

Follow this link for a copy of the RFP document and a partial floor plan showing the location of the café area our new Central Library (PDF documents).

Request for Proposal submission deadline is Monday, August 26, 2013.

Library Renovation Well Underway!

The Main Library re-opened in our new addition this past March and renovation work is well underway on the original 1961 library building.

May 1, 2013: Front windows removed and hauling trash away

 

May 1, 2013: Despite the renovation - it looks rather pretty at night!

The first half of our shared underground parking garage opened last summer, and work is progressing rapidly on the second phase of the garage. The two portions will be connected underground to create one large parking structure capable of accommodating over 400 vehicles.

Once our project is complete, our renovated and expanded Central Library will provide much needed space for our current collections and services, and enable us to accommodate for future growth.

In keeping with ever-increasing environmental concerns, our new building is also being constructed to the highest standards of energy efficiency; with a LEED GOLD designation still on target.


See more images of our construction and renovation project here.

Check out some videos of our project here.