If we had to guess—based on the site superintendent’s unwillingness to give a completion date and the state of the building right now—we’d say the library and cultural centre will still be under construction come March.
And that will likely be true for April, as well. If we’re lucky it might be completed by May, but more likely—if our predictions are correct—it will be sometime in the early summer.
Now, that’s the bad news of it.
The good news is that things are progressing. Work has clearly been done in the last few months: drywall is up, windows are in and the place is beginning to take shape. As you walk through the building now, you can see where the children’s area will be, where the circulation desk will go, where the Jasper Artist Guild will hang its art, where the Habitat for the Arts will have its pottery studio and where council will hold its meetings.
Even with the spaces covered in construction equipment and materials, you can imagine the centre bustling with people—people there to create, learn and share.
And with that image in mind, there’s no doubt it’s going to be an inspiring place to visit.
It will be a hub for the community.
Sure, its construction history will be littered with bad memories: budget overruns, surprises and legal battles, but when all is said and done, and the space is filled with art, books and people, all of that will be forgotten.
The building will likely be a year and a half late and it will come in well over the $7.5 million that was originally budgeted, but what will remain for years to come—aside from some lessons in budgeting and legalese—will be a space that was dreamnt up and hoped for by the community.
It will be a building to celebrate. And, honestly, we’re excited to see it.
We can’t wait to get in there for JAG’s first art opening, Habitat’s first theatre production, council’s first meeting, the library’s first children’s craft session and any number of other activities.
When the time comes, we hope to see you there.
