Spokane Public Library is on track to open four libraries this summer, and a fifth library is expected to reopen in spring 2022, says Amanda Donovan, marketing director for the library system.

The library projects are funded by $77 million bond measure voters approved in November 2018.

Spokane Public Library’s largest project, the Central Library, located at 906 W. Main downtown, is expected to cost $31.8 million, Donovan says. The first-floor interior of the three-story, 117,000-square-foot library has been demolished to make room for expanded public access areas.

The design-build team includes San Francisco-based Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning Inc. as the lead designer and Integrus Architecture PS, of Spokane, as another project designer. Walker Construction Inc., of Spokane, is the contractor.

Renovations estimated at $15.5 million are underway at Shadle Park Library, at 2111 W. Wellesley. Spokane-based Garco Construction Inc. is the contractor on the 30,000-square-foot project and Group 4 Architecture is the designer. A two-story atrium, new roof, and interior metal framing have been completed since construction began in January 2020. When finished, the building’s footprint will increase twofold at the library system’s busiest branch, Donovan says.

At the East Side Library, at 524 S. Stone, a new roof and interior walls have been installed. The facility will be renamed Liberty Park Library. Spokane-based Leone & Keeble Inc. is the contractor on the 6,300-square-foot project, and Integrus Architecture designed it. The project will nearly double the size of the branch, and construction is expected to cost $7.7 million.

Hillyard Library will move across the street from its current location at 4005 N. Cook and be rebuilt as part of the Shaw Middle School campus. The library will cost nearly $5 milliom.

Lydig Construction is the contractor on the 8,200-square-foot Hillyard Library, and Integrus Architecture designed it. 

The Hive, on the southwest corner of East Sprague Avenue and South Haven Street in the Sprague Union District, has a new roof in place and work continues on the building’s interior wall framing and exterior building envelope. Integrus Architecture is the designer and Leone & Keeble Inc. is the contractor on the $8.5 million project.

Renovations for the Indian Trail Library and South Hill Library will begin this summer in the second phase of bond funding, Donovan says.