Design phase opens for new northwest Calgary library

The Symons Valley Centre's design includes a new library to serve thousands of Calgarians, the Calgary Public Library says. (Supplied)

A seven-acre swath of land along Sage Hill Boulevard N.W. is being reimagined as a mixed-use development that will include a much-needed library for northwest Calgary residents.

City of Calgary designers are currently planning where to build the 15,000-square-foot Symons Valley Centre Library, community commons green space and main street.

Proposed site plan for the Symons Valley Centre Proposed site plan – subject to change. Click to enlarge image. Red (phase 1 and 2), blue (phase 3 & 4), green (phase 5) (Supplied/City of Calgary)

Symons Valley and area residents wanting to borrow books, or use computers have likely been using the Country Hills or Sage Hill public libraries.

A temporary retail space was transformed into the Sage Hill library in 2017, and now it has 12,200 active members and records 89,000 annual visits.

The Calgary Public Library says they could serve 54,000 Calgarians at the new location.

The design process is expected to be complete by the end of 2025, and construction is expected to start in 2026.

The approved budget is $40.8 million, with completion expected in mid-2028.

Symons Valley Centre will eventually include multi-family housing, retail and transit, but design and construction for those aspects are not included in this budget.