APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Appleton is moving forward once again with its hopes for a new library, after the original construction bids came in more than $14 million over budget.
Appleton’s Common Council voted Wednesday night to approve the second round of bids, which will allow the project to remain in budget. Now, the contractor will work with the selected bidders to complete different parts of the project.
The total cost of the project is $40.4 million, according to a spreadsheet provided by the city. That includes $24.8 million for construction, $9.9 million for other related costs, $5 million for professional fees, and $542,275 for costs associated with the temporary library.
“Years of community members coming forward and working on the project alongside us,” Library Director Colleen Rortvedt said. “This wasn’t just city staff- there were a lot of folks that have had input in this project.
The vision of the library has changed several times throughout the last 15 years. Yet it remains one that director Colleen Rortvedt feels confident in. Some of the biggest changes were made just during the last 9 months.
“We had to look at the rooftop terrace,” Appleton Parks and Recreation Director Dean Gazza said. “There was excavation for a children’s garden. We will have space for a future ability to add that. But one of the big adds was moving the meeting level up to the second floor- that was a big factor in removing costs also.”
Gazza said those changes allowed the most recent design to be priced right where it needed to be.
“We were fighting inflation. We were fighting over supply chain issues. You could not go after just the small things.”
Funding sources for the project consist of $26.4 million in local dollars, $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act and a $12 million fundraising campaign led by Friends of Appleton Public Library.
“You get to a particular point but then you have to have a project,” Gazza said. “About 8 million out of 12 million dollars is pledged.”
Construction will last 12 to 18 months, and a reopening is planned for early 2025. For many, it’s been a long time coming.
“What we’ve got right now is we think a really beautiful project- something that this community truly deserves,” Rortvedt said. “It’s going to be their library regardless of whether they supported it or not. So we’re just excited to make this happen.”
The library is currently operating out of a temporary facility on the east side.
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