Week of August 12, 2024:We are pleased to announce that we received the temporary certificate of occupancy on July 24, 2024. The construction punch list work is ongoing. The shelving installation is expected to be completed in early August, and the furniture will be installed shortly after.

By mid-August, branch staff will begin shelving materials and preparing the branch to open. The children’s play feature will be installed in late August.

The anticipated ribbon cutting is Saturday, September 14, 2024.

Week of June 10, 2024: The building is on schedule for completion in late July with opening projected for September. The exterior and interior work continues. Most of the storefront windows are installed, painting and ceiling work is finishing up and the mechanical systems are installed and operating. The site work, including curbs, sidewalks and grading, are progressing.

Week of April 8, 2024: Water lines are currently being installed as the exterior masonry continues along the west elevation. The transformer has been installed and the concrete pads have been poured in preparation for the air handling units. The framing of the soffits continues on the south elevation. Window frames are being set, the interior drywall walls are almost complete, and drywall ceilings have started.

Week of February 12, 2024: Construction is at the point in the building process where the structure has been enclosed and is protected from the elements. There is a temporary roof and sheathing, and temporary heat is filling the space. Metal studs, ductwork, and piping are being installed on the interior. The steel for the exterior trellis has arrived.

Week of December 11, 2023: All of the building's steel is erected, and a temporary roof is being installed while the exterior walls are getting dried in for protection through the winter months.

Week of November 27, 2023: The shape of the new Forest Park Branch Library is coming together as the initial framing of the building's walls has begun. Construction of the branch's temporary roof continues across the entire building.

Week of October 9, 2023: While preliminary site work continues, Library staff and the design professionals are continuing to work with the City of Forest Park on the building permit.

Week of October 2, 2023: Steel installation is underway, including structural supports and roofing.

Week of September 18, 2023: Additional concrete around the foundation of the building has been poured.

Week of September 4, 2023: The foundation of the 26,440-square-foot building has been poured.

Week of August 1, 2023: While preliminary site work continues, Library staff and the design professionals are continuing to work with the City of Forest Park on the building permit. Excavation continues around the work site.

Week of June 12, 2023: As with some of our other projects, unforeseen conditions were discovered early on with the existence of buried basements on the site. There were multiple testing drilling spots during the due diligence process but these two areas, each 42 feet by 42 feet, were not discovered. The basements were only under the center sections of the former building on the property. The Library is working with Turner to determine the project implications.

Week of May 22, 2023: Construction is underway on the new Forest Park Branch Library! Read our blog post about the groundbreaking of what will be one of CHPL's largest library locations.

Week of April 10, 2023: The Library has been working on the design of the new branch since March 2022. The architect, SHP, and the Construction Manager at Risk, Turner Construction, have been part of the team. Several design elements including the exterior courtyard and refinement of HVAC equipment continue during the construction document phase.

The work is expected to begin around Summer 2023, with expected completion in summer 2024. The current Forest Park Branch will remain open during construction.

Week of January 2, 2023: Bids are out on the project as we continue to work with the architect, SHP, and Construction Manager at Risk, Turner Construction ahead of the start of construction.

The project is still on track to obtain a Guaranteed Maximum Price in the first quarter of 2023 with construction beginning shortly thereafter.

Week of December 12, 2022: We are continuing to work with the architect, SHP, and Construction Manager at Risk, Turner Construction on the design. We anticipate receiving an updated cost estimate in the next few weeks and then moving onto construction documents. We plan to obtain a Guaranteed Maximum Price for the project in the first quarter of 2023 with construction beginning shortly thereafter.

Week of October 3, 2022: The City of Forest Park has completed the parcel layout and are working to record it with the county and prepare the necessary deed. We continue to work with them to develop a plan to resolve electric lines on the property.

We are continuing to work with the architect, SHP, and Construction Manager at Risk, Turner Construction on the design.

Week of August 8, 2022: The Library is working with Turner Construction and SHP to establish a project budget estimate. Designs are planned to be completed in the winter with construction beginning spring 2023.

The Library has completed test borings on the proposed site.

Week of May 9, 2022: As part of our Facility Master Plan implementation, Library leadership and representatives from SHP Architects were on-hand for a Community Information Session, opens a new window for the community to provide feedback on the prioritization the resources and services that will go into the new branch.

Week of April 20, 2022: The design process started in mid-March. The Library engaged Group 4 to provide consultation with design decisions on this first stand-alone Next Generation Library. Design is expected to continue until the late fall 2022 with plans for construction to begin early 2023.

The Board approved Turner Construction as the CMR for the branch projects for 2022-2027 which includes the Forest Park project. The Library has worked with Turner Construction to partner with Megen Construction on the Forest Park Branch project.

A Virtual Information Session, opens a new window was held on January 4, 2022 to share initial plans for the construction of a new Next Generation Forest Park Branch Library. The session also included a summary of the community's feedback and a progress update on the Library's Facilities Master Plan (FMP).

A Community Listening Session was held at the existing Forest Park Branch Library, opens a new window to hear the community's feedback on the neighborhood's needs and how the Library might improve its presence to help address these needs.