CAMPAIGN PROGRESS
Our new library’s doors will open in 2022 – help us complete its funding!
As of January 2021, FOWL’s capital campaign has raised 98% of the funding we need to complete construction, obtain an occupancy permit and open our library’s permanent home in 2022! About 700 donors have made gifts small and large to the effort so far — including individuals, businesses, foundations and grants. The project will not require any new taxes.
Estimated construction costs are $4.5 million, which includes:
paying prevailing wage labor rates, as required by our $2 million State of Washington grant
complying with LEED environmental standards, also required by the State grant
constructing an acoustically sound, commercial-grade public building with robust mechanical and electrical systems
creating finishes and features that will endure heavy foot traffic over many years
We are building at a time of very high demand for construction materials and labor, as well as an unpredictable supply chain due to the COVID pandemic. These factors put upward pressure on prices. However, we are building at a fast pace to stay on schedule, which will save costs – and we are on schedule! Our skilled and experienced team—Impel Construction, Johnston Architects, Prentiss Balance Wickline and construction advisors—are continually working to keep costs down, while delivering the best possible finished result that honors the library design.
In addition to construction costs, our total budget also includes a conservative contingency fund to cover unexpected costs, as well as architectural fees, 1% for art, insurance, inspections, utility hook-ups, permits and administrative costs. Additionally, FOWL purchased an adjacent parcel of land to accommodate parking and the Outdoor Library.
We expect to continue to seek funding for additional phases of the library project in order to deliver the features our community told us they want in a new library. These include cozy window seats and a “children’s only” area and dedicated restroom. Furthermore, we will pursue funding, partnerships, and skilled volunteer help and support for special library enhancements such as the Outdoor Library, solar power, and electric vehicle charging stations.