Sylvan Lake’s library is getting a makeover.
Red Deer’s Berry Architecture and Associates has been hired to design the revamp, which will see the library expand into space left by the departing archives, which are moving into a space in the newly completed municipal government building.
About 1,000 square feet will be added and used to create a much-needed public meeting space, said Frank Peck, chair of the library’s building committee. Existing meeting rooms will be turned into additional space for books.
Peck said the library is undersized for the 13,000-plus community.
The changes, which will see major renovations to the inside to better serve the public, will buy some time until a new library is built.
“It’s really needed,” said Peck of the upgrade. “For the size of this town (the library) is small.”
Town council has already put aside $400,000 in its budget for the project.
Tenders are expected to go out in October or November and it’s expected construction will start early next year. Meanwhile, the town will debuts its new municipal government building on 50th Street on Aug. 19. It replaces the current town hall on nearby 50th Avenue that the town administration had outgrown.
The $7.2-million two-storey replacement was built on time and on budget, said Mayor Susan Samson.
As part of that project, the archives will be given double its current space in the basement of the new building.