Background and Research
Research and assessment of Central Library has spanned 15 years. We’ve gathered documents and information over this period and shared them here, organized by year. Click on the year to view documents available. Print copies are available to borrow from Central Library.
2020-2021 2019 2018 2017 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008
2020-2021
Needs Assessment and Project Plan (business case)
Colliers Project Leaders was contracted by RPL to support the Board as the Owner’s Representative for the Central Library Development project.
Consulting firm KPMG was subcontracted to produce a comprehensive report called the Needs Assessment and Project Plan (NAPP) The NAPP was developed after careful review of previous reports and information about Central Library, as well as industry best practices, economic indicators, public and stakeholder feedback, and other considerations to:
- confirm driving factors for Central Library renewal;
- establish a plan to address the needs of Regina’s growing community in a renewed facility; and
- identify anticipated costs and benefits associated with the Central Library Development project.
View Needs Assessment and Project Plan Report
Consulting work for NAPP
Consulting work on the NAPP included a public open house, a public online survey, focus groups, and interviews with City of Regina leadership. Recurring themes from within these diverse groups were incorporated into the business case approach and conclusions.
For example, public polling revealed that:
- Over 90% of Reginans support or strongly support library services in Regina; and
- Two-thirds of Reginans support or strongly support investing in Central Library through increased property taxes.
Polling Report
The most recent work to support the Board’s decision making was undertaken in spring 2021 when Insightrix Research Inc. conducted a telephone and online polling survey to gather feedback about Central Library renewal from the Regina community.
Stakeholder Engagement Summary v2.0
Following development of the Needs Assessment and Project Plan in 2020, RPL identified the need to engage with stakeholders to gauge impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall support for the project.
Interviews with 26 individuals from 19 organizations were undertaken to determine stakeholder perception of the project in the context of the ongoing pandemic.
Results of the interviews revealed that stakeholders continue to support Central Library Development, and that the pandemic has strengthened the need for investment.
2019
Stakeholder Engagement Summary
Praxis Consulting Ltd. conducted an engagement of valued community partners through one-on-one interviews and an online survey. The engagement provided a snapshot of RPL’s role in the community, and the value of RPL’s services with regards to social and economic development in Regina.
2018
P3A Feasibility Study Update
Studies from 2010 to 2017 were analyzed and summarized to recommend a course of action and next steps for Central Library Development. The study was an update to the 2011 Feasibility Study conducted by P3 Architecture.
The update contributed new understanding to the Central Library discussion:
- The growth of the City indicated that the library should be slightly larger than the original 2011 proposed;
- The ongoing cost of multiple locations indicated that separation of some functional units from the Central Library would be more expensive in the long run rather than keeping them together; and
- While the library’s service and program offering continued to evolve, it would not require significant adjustment to the Master Program.
2017
Deloitte Report – Business Case Phase 1
The Deloitte Business Case Phase 1 report builds off the Group2 Building Assessment of 2015 to identify the feasibility of several options for renewing Central Library, using restoration of the current facility as a baseline.
- Option 1: Renovate and modernize the current Central Library building to meet building code standards and improve functionality.
- Option 2: Renovate and modernize Central Library as above and expand the building.
- Option 3: Build a new Central Library.
This report also provides key insights into life-cycle costs and their impact on the project. Inclusion of life-cycle costs demonstrated that restoration of the current building and adding to it comes with a nearly identical cost to building new.
2015
Group2 Central Library Building Assessment Report
Group2 Architecture Interior Design Ltd. was contracted in 2014 to assess the Central Library building under the assumption that the current building needed to sustain services into the future.
Released in 2015, Group2’s report provided three repair and maintenance scenarios reflecting the possibility that the building would need to be active for a short term (less than 5 years), medium term (5-15 years), and long term (more than 15 years).
Key information from this report includes:
- The short-term scenario had already passed and the work it represented had not been undertaken; and
- The long-term cost assumptions do not assume or include full restoration – its intent is remediation and code compliance rather than full reconstruction.
2014
Dialog Public Input Summary for Central Library Engagement
DIALOG, a Canadian architectural, engineering, interior design and planning firm, was contracted to engage Regina citizens and gather public input on how Reginans imagine their Central Library and its services. DIALOG found that the Regina community places tremendous value on libraries and sees Central Library as a vital public institution that is important to the city’s future.
View Dialog Public Input Summary for Central Library Engagement Report
Public Consultation Results
Following the broad public engagement, RPL and DIALOG held an open house event to share results and provide an opportunity for further input.
2013
Central Library Survey
Options to renew Central Library pursued to date, including the application to P3Canada, were unsuccessful. In 2013, RPL sought a fresh look at Central Library renewal from the point of view of Reginans, and launched a Central Library Survey.
815 interviews were conducted in person, online, and by telephone. Quantitative and qualitative responses were collected to assess residents’ opinions of RPL’s services and facilities, and desired additions to both.
Key insights included:
- High interest in the library continuing to provide a full range of services; and
- Wide range of interest in possible new Central Library services.
2012
Building Assessment
First prepared in 2009, this report was updated in 2012 to reflect RPL’s technical and functional requirements, and to review issues tied to building re-use.
The Building Assessment speaks to the functional and structural issues that renovation could not remedy, including:
- Accessibility;
- Horizontal and vertical expansion;
- Wayfaring; and
- High investment for low return.
2011
Feasibility Study Report
The Regina Public Library/Regina Cultural Centre Feasibility Report was created by P3 Architecture and Harvard Developments and includes information about the need for a new Central Library, the overall vision of the project, and proposed design information.
The Feasibility Study Report outlined the basic framework for development of a new Central Library as part of a multi-partner cultural centre in downtown Regina.
The study brought together the cumulative information on community needs and the state of the current building. It concluded that Central Library needed to be a new build. It showed the first concept designs of the library as part of a broader Cultural Centre that could include commercial development, and clearly indicated the Library’s preference to build on land that included the current site. The report formed the basis of the application to P3Canada for funding.
2010
Development Plan
In 2009 RPL commissioned a development plan for Central Library. It identified requirements for the proposed Central Library, beginning with its strategic directions, and ending with physical planning concepts.
The consulting team included representatives from P3 Architects, Nick Milkovich Architects Inc., Resource Planning Group Inc. (RPG), and Harvard Developments Inc. RPL applied for P3 Canada Funding to support the project, however later changes in federal priorities led to the library’s withdrawal from the P3 Canada process.
The Development Plan, also known as the functional program, established a master set of programs and services for Central Library. It determined that the total square footage of the Central Library should be approximately 150,000 ft²; and that an ideal footprint for each level is just under 35,000 ft².
2009
The RPL Board issues an invitation for Expressions of Interest in Central Library Development, soliciting proposals that would explore possibilities and engage Reginans in conversation.
Harvard Developments, working in partnership with P3Architecture, was selected for the project. Harvard and P3A immediately began community engagement on the project through:
1. A visioning session
A Visioning Session was held to solicit thoughts and ideas from interested stakeholders for the future of the Central Library. Stakeholders represented a wide range of organizations and individuals, and participated by viewing and discussing examples of libraries, public spaces, and mixed-use developments.
2. A public survey
A public survey comprised of 11 questions was conducted online to solicit detailed comments on the potential redevelopment of Central Library. In addition to the online survey, hard copies were also distributed at all RPL locations. The survey solicited 304 total respondents.
Several key themes emerged from this engagement work:
- Space and functional limitations of current space
- Asset to downtown services and revitalization
- Investment in culture and education
- Accessible and free resource for everyone
- 70% of survey respondents recognized the need for more space
A visual assessment of the current Central Library building brought together information about the inadequacy of building systems – the roof, building envelope and insulation, windows, electrical, mechanical, and building code deficiencies.
Existing Facility Analysis
The Central Library building’s existing condition was analyzed in 2009, and results revealed issues with structural, mechanical, and electrical systems in the building. This report summarized the state of the existing facility.
2008
- The RPL Board recognizes the need to address the Central Library as both a physical asset in need of action and a key public service for Reginans.
- Board formally moves development of the Central Library onto its strategic agenda.