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There are still many unknowns about the development of the new Regina Central Library, but a few questions will be answered with a motion approved at Tuesday’s board meeting.
The Regina Public Library board has voted to open a request for qualifications, which would pick different developers to build the new central branch. It will be released in October.
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“We’re ready for your ideas,” said board chair Marj Gavigan. “We’re ready to see what you think you can build us.”
Developers will need to take part in a two-step process. In early 2026, different developers will be invited to participate in a request for proposals competition, after its RFQ is approved.
A developer will be chosen in mid-2026.
The push for a renewed central branch comes after staff have brought forward problems with the aging building.
Jeff Barber, the director and CEO of RPL, said it’s taken longer to open RFQ applications than he had originally hoped.
A key piece was securing debt financing from city council for the project to move forward.
In July 2024, councillors voted in favour of the 5.5 per cent per year mill rate increase to fund the new central branch.
After many hours of consultation, Barber feels like “the stars have aligned.”
“This is a huge step, because issuing this RFQ is a formal process that has to have completion,” he said. “We’ve never been this far before.”
Barber said the board is looking at this development as an opportunity for partnership.
“If you want the library to be a part of a broader development with partners, then go get those partners, tell us who they are, make that a part of your proposal,” he said.
One qualification piece of developers’ proposals that is important to the board is that the new building will be downtown between Albert Street and Broad Street, and Victoria Avenue and Saskatchewan Drive.
An affordability cap has been placed on developers to keep costs from drifting out of the library’s budget.
Proposals can incorporate renovations to current buildings or sharing spaces with other tenants.
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