AUSTIN, Texas — The opening date for Austin's new Central Austin library has been pushed back once again.
We spoke with the facilities manager for Austin Public libraries and he says they're now aiming to open this fall — no longer in May.
As for where construction stands, we’re told that right now the building is in the process of getting inspected.
Some things have already passed, some still have to be checked out. So now the contractor is waiting to get what's called “substantial completion,” which really just means that all tests have been passed by the building inspector, fire department and so forth.
He didn't want to throw out an exact date, but does expect that to be done in near future.
The building can then go ahead and get a stocking permit — That's when furniture can be moved in, shelves can be put up.
Then, once it gets final completion, people can move in, and librarians can start setting up, which we’re told usually takes about a month.
The 200,000 square-foot library will have amenities including a restaurant, art gallery, outdoor cafe and solar panels on the roof as well as books, of course, twice as many as the existing Central Library.
This is a project that the city council approved over a decade ago — the original budget was set at $90 million.
Then four years later, council approved the budget to be bumped up to $120 million. Last June, the project got an additional $1.3 million in funding, and then in November, $5.5 million more. So this project is about $36 million over budget.
The facilities manager told us that it's regrettable that it's taking longer than originally expected. But he did add it's a complex building made to last for the next 100 years.
The project also includes a bridge over Shoal Creek that connects the library directly to 2nd Street.