City of Guelph to start work on downtown library
The City of Guelph and the Guelph Public Library Board kicked off construction on a new central library on June 20.
The new 88,000-square foot building will be the main feature of the downtown Baker District redevelopment project. It will be a zero-carbon building in alignment with the city’s goal of achieving a 63-percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net zero carbon by 2050.
“This is an exciting milestone for downtown Guelph,” said the city’s Chief Administrative Officer Scott Stewart. “This project is a critical part of creating a more prosperous, vibrant, and socially connected Downtown; it’s a big moment for all of us.”
The groundbreaking follows the successful conclusion of the procurement process for the new central library, underground parking garage, and public squares. The project is coming in within the approved budget. The project team has been successful in working with our construction manager to address inflationary cost pressures through value engineering including review of construction methods and exploration of alternative materials. Construction of the central library and underground parking is expected to be completed in about three years.
“We’re thrilled to put shovels in the ground for our new central public library,” says Steven Kraft, Chief Executive Officer, Guelph Public Library. “This is a big step forward. The new library is going to bring many social, economic, and environmental benefits to the city. It will also support the needs of our growing population.”
Construction of the new library and parking garage, which is being led by Melloul Blamey Construction, is expected to be finished in 2026.
The Baker District project is an initiative to transform a former municipal parking lot into a multi-use, compact district in Downtown Guelph.
The redevelopment is a key component of the city’s Downtown Renewal program—a massive undertaking to transform how Downtown Guelph looks, feels, and functions, while also preserving its cultural heritage.