City Approves $30M to Jump Start $130M Library Expansion

Plans call for renovation of the 300,000-sf existing building, which was completed in 1927, and a 160,000-sf addition designed by Israel-born architect, Moshe Safdie. The Free Library's foundation retained Safdie following a worldwide selection process. Based in Sommerville, MA, the firm designed Ben Gurian National Airport in Israel, Quangdong Science Center in China and the Boston Museum, among other world-class projects.

Specifically, the ordinance authorizes lease of the property to the foundation through Philadelphia Authority of Industrial Development, which enables PAID to issue the $30-million bond. PAID is a state authority managed by the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp.

Via PAID, the city is advancing $10 million of the contribution, prior to the issue of the bond, to allow for pre-development design and fundraising activities over the next 18 months. According to Peter Longstreth, PIDC president, this is the same leasehold financing structure used to finance construction of Citizens Bank Ballpark for the Philadelphia Phillies and Lincoln Financial Field, the Philadelphia Eagles' new home.

To date, the Free Library's foundation has raised $47 million for the project, including the city's $30 million. Groundbreaking is planned for spring 2006. A recent court ruling to allow the Barnes Collection of art to move into a new museum across from the library added new urgency to the renovation and expansion.

It will include enlarged children's and teen's centers, 300 new computers, a new auditorium and an Urban Room for relaxation and food service. It will also improve access and update technology systems for more efficient book ordering and delivery.

Elliot Shelkrot, the Free Library's president and director, says in past years the library has added seven million items including formats, such as books on tape, DVDs, CDs and computer databases "never thought of when we opened. We have lost space for people."