Planned Projects
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At 15,000 square feet, the popular South Hill Library (3324 S. Perry St.) operates at capacity, with a large collection and the highest circulation in the city.
Library leadership responded to strong community interest to preserve the current South Hill Library location, building, and size, and implement a “makeover” to renew building systems, finishes, and furnishings, create flexible connections to the program room (allowing either space to serve as overflow during heaviest use of its neighbor) and introduce group study rooms into the existing floorplan.
Planning for the South Hill design will resume in early 2020 during Phase 2 of the Library Bond Projects.
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At 17,800 square feet, the Shadle Library (2111 W. Wellesley Ave.) is undersized for its role as a destination library for the north side of Spokane. The site surrounding the library is property of Spokane Parks and Recreation and granted by agreement to host the library. The Shadle Library will expand to approximately 30,000 square feet to meet the level of demand for additional and 21st century library spaces and services.
Through several rounds of engagement led by the architecture firm for this project, Group 4 Architecture, including community round tables and an Advisory Committee Community the above design was favored. This scheme relocates the library entrance to a tall atrium, lined with clerestory windows and opening simultaneously towards the Aquatics Center and the Shadle shopping center across North Belt Street.
An expanded program room and generous children’s zone are included in the designs as well as a designated quiet area. The original building will be preserved and will include new interior spaces including meetings rooms and maker spaces. An expansion toward the intersection of Wellesley and Belt will increase the presence of Shadle Library along the Wellesley thoroughfare.
Shadle Library closed for construction on December 22, 2019 and will be closed until fall 2021. An alternate location is available in Northtown Mall across from the Blue Zoo and Buffalo Wild Wings. The Shadle renovation will be led by Garco Construction and designed by G4 Architecture.
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Spokane’s main library, the three story, 117,000 square foot library at 906 W. Main Avenue, has experienced a significant shift in use since it opened twenty-four years ago. This library is a citywide hub of 21st century library services and a central place within the Spokane community. After reopening, this library will be renamed Central Library.
Much of the building remains unchanged since its original mid-90’s format and the first floor is mostly dedicated to staff space. The remodeled Central Library will recapture this space and create a vast range of opportunities for public use from the first floor up. A business lab, a computer lab, program rooms, retail space and café will energize the first-floor space. A new staircase will connect the first and second floors to improve the dynamic flow of the space.
The library materials collection will still begin on the second floor, where a robust marketplace will extend the retail experience of River Park Square across the skywalk. A vibrant river-themed Children’s Discovery space will overlook the river and falls and the adult will extend throughout the south side of the second floor.
The Inland Northwest Special Collection will move to the 3rd floor along adjacent to the large event space and stage that overlooks the falls, a new recording studio/music lesson space, a video studio as well as a radio station live broadcast space. The second and third floors will be connected with a social stair that provides additional seating that can also function as a tiered performance space. Ample meeting rooms and small study rooms will punctuate the all floors of the building offering a variety of choices for community use.
Central Library closed for construction on February 29, 2020 and will remain closed until spring 2022. An alternate location will open on the 2nd floor of STA Plaza on March 2, 2020. The Central Library renovation is led by Walker Construction and designed by G4 Architecture.
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The 8,200 SF Hillyard Library (4005 N. Cook St.) will move across the street and be re-built on the new Shaw Middle School Campus in partnership with Spokane Public Schools.
By partnering with Spokane Public Schools, both the school community and the public will benefit from expanded service offerings and efficient use of tax-payer funds.
The Hillyard/Shaw Middle School Campus is currently under construction, effective October 1, 2019 with an estimated completion in summer 2021. This project is led by Lydig Construction and designed by Integrus Architecture.
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At 6,300 SF, East Side Library (524 S. Stone St.) is the smallest branch in the Spokane Public Library system. The existing East Side Library will close and move to new location at Liberty Park, built where the tennis courts currently sit adjacent to the Liberty Park Aquatic Center.
The new library will nearly double in size and the design will reflect a sleek and modern aesthetic, maximizing westward views of the park. This space emphasizes a Children’s Zone, features a program space that is more than double the size of the existing meeting room at the current East Side library, and includes two new quiet study rooms.
This library is designed by Integrus Architecture of Spokane and constructed by Leone & Keeble of Spokane. Construction began in spring 2020 and is scheduled to be completed in fall 2021.
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Completed in 1998, Indian Trail Library (4909 W. Barnes Rd.) is the youngest facility in SPL’s system. The 10,600 SF facility will receive a makeover within the current footprint, refreshing building systems, finishes, and furnishings. A renewed Indian Trail library will incorporate group study rooms, and create a more permeable and flexible entrance to the program room, allowing the room to serve as overflow space for the library. We may also develop an outdoor courtyard or educational garden with a strong connection to a revitalized Children’s Discovery area.
Planning for the Indian Trail design will resume in early 2020 during Phase 2 of the Library Bond Projects.
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In partnership with Spokane Public Schools, the Library is building a cutting-edge facility on the corner of E. Sprague and S. Haven. We are affectionately calling this location The Hive™ for the variety of learning and activity that will take place there. This building will provide not only a new teacher training facility and offices for Spokane Virtual Learning but also a location for 21st century public library services like maker space and event galleries.
This library is designed by Integrus Architecture of Spokane and constructed by Leone & Keeble of Spokane. Construction began in spring 2020 and is scheduled to be completed in summer 2021.
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In November 2018, Spokane voters approved a $77 million bond measure to remodel 4 existing libraries and build 3 new libraries. The projects include:
Bond Project Updates Flyer
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When the Library Bond passed in 2018, voters indicated their number one priority was improved children’s areas. Spokane Public Library engaged Luci Creative, a Chicago-based children’s playscape design firm, to develop six whimsical children’s spaces for the Central Library (formerly Downtown), Shadle Park, Liberty Park, Hillyard, Indian Trail, and South Hill.
Each library play space will be an access point to a whimsical alternate reality that draws on familiar features of Spokane's landscape and culture. This unified world will encourage visitors to continue their journey at other library locations. Around the bend, under the bridge, between those trees – find your way into Spokane’s hidden worlds. Large-scale, natural elements will add a fantasy vibe while artsy textures and patterns give the space a handmade feel that kids can relate to. The native flora and fauna of Spokane will mingle with a friendly cast of characters and will be used throughout the play spaces in both environmental graphics and dimensional elements. All of the children’s spaces include integrated shelving for books (to augment traditional shelving) and seating for reading.
