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Edmonton’s Stanley A. Milner Library delayed; no date set for opening

Click to play video: 'Edmonton library redesign slammed online, but officials urge patience'
Edmonton library redesign slammed online, but officials urge patience
WATCH (July 16, 2019): The makeover of the Stanley A. Milner Library isn't complete yet, but on Monday night, public reaction to the new redesign was not kind. Breanna Karsten-Smith reports – Jul 16, 2019

The Stanley A. Milner Library will be delaying its opening, according to a tweet from the Edmonton Public Library on Saturday.

“We’ve been working hard to make our downtown library the best it can be, and want to ensure when we open our doors it’s as special as we’ve always imagined,” the tweet read.

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The original date set for the downtown library’s opening was planned for Feb. 14, 2020.

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In a statement, Edmonton Public Library CEO Pilar Martinez said the project should be completed by spring 2020:

“The complexities involved in a renovation project of this size have meant things are taking a little longer than anticipated,” the statement said. “We will be open within months of our original hopes, and still within the estimated project completion date of spring 2020.”

“We are excited to make the Milner Library very special, and when it opens it will be a must-visit destination in the heart of downtown.

We will share a new opening date in the new year once we have more details,” said Martinez.

The library was closed on Dec. 31, 2016 to undergo a major renovation including an exterior makeover, asbestos removal, mechanical and electrical upgrades and floor-to-ceiling second-floor windows.

Then in 2017, city council was told that unexpected problems would raise the initial price from $69 million to $84.5 million.

A rendering of downtown Edmonton’s Stanley A. Milner Library. Courtesy, EPL

The library’s official city website said Saturday the grand opening of the revitalized building will take place in spring 2020.

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