SEQUIM — Public library leaders look to go to bid this fall for construction of Sequim Library’s expansion and renovation of its 40-year-old building.
A finish date for the structure, at 630 N. Sequim Ave., tentatively remains the end of 2024, North Olympic Library System (NOLS) leaders said Wednesday.
They and representatives from SHKS Architects of Seattle revealed updated designs, cost estimates and upcoming fundraising efforts.
“It’s hard to believe it’s real,” NOLS executive director Noah Glaude said of the project.
“I’ve been looking at these plans for a year now … This is gonna happen.”
The project adds about 3,500 square feet to the 6,200-square-foot building, including larger spaces for meetings, collections and staff work space.
“We can’t predict the future but can provide a space that’s flexible,” said David Strauss, SHKS Architects principal.
One example includes the meeting room, proposed to move to the south side of the building, going from about 830 square feet to about 850 square feet with an option to open the adjacent gathering area to add another 550 square feet, according to SHKS project lead Pia Westen.
“Development has stayed the course of early design principles,” Westen said.
Outside/inside
A new pedestrian path would run along the southern side of the property from Sequim Avenue to the front door and a performance stage on the east side of the property.
Parking for 32 vehicles would mostly stay on the western side of the property with parking for staff on the northeastern side of the building.
Drive-up drop boxes would be replaced with a walk-up drop box on the west side of the building due to the boxes being hit by vehicles, inclement weather affecting media, and the weight of moving carts. The drop box would be self-contained with fire sprinklers over them as a safety precaution.
The building itself is inspired by local farm buildings, Westen said, and the library should “feel like it belongs in Sequim.”
Inside, designs remain similar to SHKS’ presentation in September with the entrance close to its current location, leading to bathrooms, the main library and the gathering space.
On the south side of the building are the gathering space, meeting rooms and children’s collection area.
In the middle are the media collections with shelves about 4 feet tall to help with visibility.
On the north side of the library would be a staff area, public computers, a teen/tween area, and study and meeting rooms.
Sequim’s branch manager Emily Sly said it’ll be “a complete remodel that will feel like a totally different space.”
One of the improvements will be how well wired the building will be for technology with wireless activity a priority and more plug-ins for devices, Sly said.
Energy and carbon output from the building will be low too, Westen said.
The project must meet the silver standard for LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a green building rating system, and current projections have it surpassing that along with its initial estimated Energy Use Intensity (EUI), according to library documents.
NOLS is also pursuing a grant for solar power that could bring it closer to net zero emissions, too.
“It’s a great achievement for a renovation project to get this low in energy usage,” Westen said.
The renovation would also add a bioinfiltration pond to capture and process all rainwater.
Cost
NOLS leaders estimate the total project will cost about $9.3 million with the building’s construction at about $6.2 million, and soft costs, such as sales tax/fees, furniture/fixtures, and architectural and engineering fees, at $3.1 million.
Glaude said NOLS has about $5.1 million secured from timber revenues ($2 million), grants ($2.1 million), and donations/bequests ($1 million).
Construction estimates have remained about $6 million, he said, and library leaders have set a goal to raise about $3 million through grants and a capital campaign that launches this month through the North Olympic Library Foundation.
The foundation is a separate nonprofit, he said, that will offer opportunities to get involved, such as donation tiers for donors’ names to appear on a wall in the library, and naming opportunities for certain library spaces.
NOLS will participate in the Sequim Irrigation Festival Grand Parade on May 13 and be at the Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market throughout its season. Glaude said to contact Sly at 360-683-1161 to get involved.
To cover remaining costs, Glaude said NOLS’ board of trustees will discuss possibly transferring funds from Capital Reserves for soft costs, such as the $850,000 construction contingency.
“If needed, non-voted general obligation bonds will be used as a last resort to bridge any funding gap,” he said.
NOLS has not taken on bonds before, Glaude said. It has hired a financial advisor to “walk us through the process.”
“We hope to keep it very small or nothing,” he said.
During construction, an interim library space will be used in the area with more details to come in the fall, staff said.
For more about the Sequim project, visit nols.org/sequim.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
