Saskatoon Central Library opening pushed back after construction bids 'substantially higher' than budget

Saskatoon Public Library is closing the book — for now — on its new central library project, which was supposed to be breaking ground this fall.

All of the construction bids received for new branch were "substantially higher" than the project's budget, Saskatoon Public Library said in a Thursday news release.

As a result, construction is being delayed. 

"Right now, we're not looking for an additional increase to the borrowing limit that's been set," Jim Siemens, the library's board chair, told guest host Theresa Kliem in a Friday interview with CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning.

He said he couldn't disclose how over-budget the construction bids were, because that's "not public information." 

Saskatoon Morning8:10Construction on the new downtown central library is on hold after the project bids came in over budget

Guest host Theresa Kliem talks with Jim Siemens, chair of the Saskatoon Public Library's Board, about the library's decision to delay construction of a new downtown library.

When contacted for comment on the bids, the Saskatchewan Construction Association said there are challenges that have influenced construction costs in the province in recent years.

"We empathize with the difficulties and considerations involved in cancelling a tender," the association said in a emailed statement, but added that "construction firms and their supply chain commit substantial resources when pursuing project opportunities."

The total budget for the central library was set at $134 million, including just over $81 million for construction costs alone.

According to Saskatoon Public Library, there were five independent cost estimates done from 2021 to 2023 that all pointed to the project being on budget.

Over the next six to eight months, the library will work with a construction manager to find "cost savings" to better align the construction costs with the budget, Thursday's news release said.

"We're going to try and keep as much of the design as possible and work with construction industry to find efficiencies in systems that can be done better just working with them to refine the design," said Siemens.

"This is an opportunity to make it better and to actually increase the value to Saskatoon taxpayers so that they are getting the best possible solution."

A new construction start date has yet to be determined, but the new branch will not likely be open until December 2027.

The current central library building has already been sold, and it will change possession in December 2026 — potentially meaning a whole year without a central branch.

Saskatoon Public Library says it is making plans to "minimize service disruptions," and other libraries across the city will not be affected.