Calgary

Take a sneak peek at Calgary's new library

On time and under budget, the new $245-million downtown library is getting good reviews. CBC took part in a tour today as they continue putting on the final touches.

Lighter, bigger, newer central library almost ready to load in the books

Sneak peek tour of the new central library

7 years ago
Duration 0:45
It's not quite finished, but CBC got to check out what's going on in Calgary's new fancy library downtown. It's set to open this fall.

It's still a busy construction zone inside the new library, and it's nothing like the current downtown library.

The new $245-million Calgary Central Library is significantly bigger, with plenty of windows — and an open feel throughout much of the building.

​The cafe is taking shape with a view over the LRT tracks, which carry C-Trains in and out of the tunnel underneath the library.

Claire Lepan, with the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, says everything is slowly coming together — like the large kid's play area on the second floor.

"There's lots of colour integrated into them," Lepan says. "So this one here, from the taller structure has these long pendulum like balls that hang from the ceiling that kids can swing on as a type of seat."

An artist's rendition of what the new Calgary Central Library will look like when it opens in November 2018. (City of Calgary)

Roughly 3,000 tables and chairs will start arriving soon. Lepan says construction should wrap by late September and the library staff can start moving in books computers and other gear.

"We are still on time and ahead of schedule on the delivery of this project, which is scheduled for a public grand opening on Nov. 1 of 2018," she says.

With files from Scott Dippel