Waterloo City Council has awarded the tender for construction of the East Side Branch Library at RIM Park to Fortis Construction Group for $7 million.

A construction schedule is now being developed, with the new branch scheduled to open in spring 2022.

“It will be great to get the library up and running,” Mayor Dave Jaworsky said during the council meeting on September 21. “It’s a project whose time has come.”

The design of the new library branch, which will be located off University Avenue East, was released last December. Features of the building, which was designed by a joint-venture team from John MacDonald Architect and Ward 99 Architects, include a Trombe wall for passive solar heating and a “collaboratory”, an open, flexible space that will encourage, support, and facilitate community programming and maker activities.

The design also features a forest school, an enclosed, natural outdoor space that can be used year-round for dynamic programming and educational activities for all ages.

Interior features include soundproof rooms, a digital room for gaming, and a creative collaboration space. The branch, Waterloo’s fourth, will cost about $1 million per year to operate.

“We are excited to move into the next phase of bringing the East Side Branch Library to life,” says Laurie Clarke, Waterloo Public Library’s CEO. “As always, working with City staff has been a great experience and the entire project team continues to work diligently and enthusiastically on such an important initiative for our community.”