New collaborative community space more than a decade in the making
The Westfield Washington Public Library (WWPL) and Westfield Washington Township Trustee will break ground on their new 55,000 square-foot building at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17 on the southwest corner of Park and Poplar streets.
“This new building will be a centerpiece in the heart of Westfield’s expanding downtown,” WWPL Director Sheryl Sollars said. “While our current buildings have served us well through the years, they don’t allow us room to grow and continue to meet the community’s burgeoning needs.”
Carey Tolan
Sollars
The building will be two-story with two separate entrances – one for the library and one for the township offices. The new library will provide more parking, an expanded teen area, a massive community room, and a coffee shop – as well as outdoor activity space on the 3.6-acre property.
“This is something we have been working toward and planning for nearly a decade, so we are beyond thrilled to see the start of construction,” Westfield Washington Township Trustee Danielle Carey Tolan said. “This partnership is an excellent example of efficiency in government by sharing construction costs, space, equipment, and staff while providing a new and expanded community asset.”
The library will cover its construction and land costs with a $16.7 million general obligation bond. The township trustee’s portion will not exceed $5.2 million. KRM Architects will serve as the project architect. Meyer Najem is the contractor. Construction is expected to last approximately 12 to 18 months.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend the groundbreaking. The trustee’s office will be collecting new hats and gloves for those less fortunate in the community.