FAQ

What will it cost to build the proposed new Library?
Based on the most up-to-date estimates by Dharam Consulting we expect the project to be about $36 Million.

Has this changed?
Yes- our previous estimates for $30 MM were done several years ago and the increase is in-line with the construction cost increases across our region.

How will you ensure that the project stays within budget?
We have hired an Owner’s Representative with significant building industry expertise, who is working closely with our building committee to review and negotiate our contracts and to advise us on all aspects of this project to ensure that we get a quality building within our budget.

Who is on your building committee?
Volunteers from our Board of Trustees, delegates from the Town of New Canaan and the wider community including people from the fields of construction and architecture and those with extensive experience on building committees for other non-profits.

How much money will you request from the Town of New Canaan?
10 Million dollars.

How can the town be assured that this money will be carefully spent?
We will negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding that will govern the grant from the town and includes provisions for TNC representation on the Library building committee and Board of Trustees.

Where will the rest of the money come from?
Our quiet phase Capital Campaign raised ~$16MM in cash and pledges and we will raise the remainder over the next several years. In addition, we have secured a line of credit from a local bank as insurance so that we can make sure that our cashflows will align with the pace of our expenses.

Who is responsible for managing cost over-runs?
We will work diligently to deliver this project within budget and to that end, we have a top notch owner’s representative, and extensive expertise from the fields of construction, architecture, engineering and fundraising on our team. It is the Library’s responsibility for continuing to fundraise to cover building costs.

What will happen to the costs of operating the library once it is built?
The building has been designed and built to be the most efficient it can, reducing the demand on heating, cooling and lighting and we hope to incorporate renewables into the plan. Current modelling shows that new revenue streams created by lease and rental income will offset potential increases in landscaping, cleaning and electricity. Furthermore, RFID and a mechanized materials handling system mean that we can re-deploy staff from manual tasks to front line customer service to ensure efficient staffing.

Is it true that neighboring libraries have seen their costs go up due to the operational costs of their new buildings?
No, in fact we have been in contact and reviewed these costs over the several years we’ve been working on this. In the case of new buildings, total energy consumption of the new buildings has decreased due to the greater efficiencies of the new buildings.

How big is the Library Green?
More than 2/3 acre

Who owns the Library property and building?
The New Canaan Library owns the building and the land.

Can some of the elements of the original structure be incorporated into the plan?
We will ask local artists to create visual representations of the current building. We have committed that any serious offer to remove the original structure from the site to preserve elsewhere will be supported. If that does not transpire, we hope to repurpose some elements of the original structure in our Green.

What would it cost to retain and repurpose the original structure as a standalone?
Several professional estimates for this work to retain the 20’ x 65’ Main Street façade at more than $3 Million. This would include independent HVAC, bringing it up to current building code and making it ADA compliant.

Is the original structure a designated landmark?
No, the library is not on the National Register of Historic Places, nor the list of National Historic Landmarks. It is not in the New Canaan Historic District.

Is the original building structurally sound?
The original structure has had several additions since it was built in 1913, two of these – in 1936 and in 1979 altered the original building. The original building includes what is now the Quiet Reading Room and the Director’s office as well as the entry way between the two. Its front wall, facing Main street as well as the end wall facing Maple street are intact. Once the rest of the structure is removed, there is no rear wall and the other end wall is incomplete. There appears to be a slab under the reading room and there is a basement under the director’s office which – once the rest of the building is removed- is only partial.

What will it cost to demolish the existing structure?
Due to the levels of hazards materials throughout the entire existing building, there is still ongoing work on this estimate.

Why is the original building not in this plan?
In 2012 Centerbrook Architects conducted extensive workshops with a 40+ person broadly representative group from the community. Together they identified the goals of the project and identified several potential solutions, starting with renovation options. As these options were explored thoroughly, it became clear that the savings that might be achieved through renovation were more than offset by the costs of phasing the project and moving the library during construction. Further iterations focused on largely new construction with a plan to include the original structure, relocated on the site. The final iteration of this phase was more than double the size of the current library and far too expensive. The conceptual work was then paused while the Library undertook a feasibility study on fundraising and concluded the protracted discussions to acquire the final neighboring parcel.

In 2017, we went back to Centerbrook, informed by the community input and work done earlier, with a clear budget and an expanded footprint. The work done with the community and the library had made clear the needs and desires, the costs of each and the very difficult decisions about what trade-offs could be made. Ultimately, given the high cost of retaining the original structure at least $3 million dollars, the need to hew to a budget that was achievable from a fundraising standpoint, and the need for efficient, effective functional space we concluded that the retention of the original structure would adversely compromise the Library’s operating and financial stability.

Will the Library stay open during the construction?
Yes, the Library will continue to operate in the existing building throughout the construction. Once the new Library is ready, operations will move into the new building.

Is the Library part of the Town?
No. The Library is an independent 501 c3 registered charity. It is funded through philanthropy and an annual grant from the Town of New Canaan.