Northfield is one step closer to tripling size of its local library

Northfield’s public library is a procedural step closer to expanding its cramped Orchard Lane home, after Northfield Village Board members on June 17 gave Village Manager Patrick Brennan the go-ahead to negotiate with two architectural firms and recommend one of them to be the project’s design architect.

Village and library officials still have several more steps in front of them before a larger library becomes a reality. That includes figuring out construction costs — estimated in 2024 at $4 million, not including site preparation, and potentially as high as $6 million according to 2025 assessments — and finding funding sources.

The ultimate goal is to more than triple the library’s current space, from about 3,000 square feet to 10,000-11,000 feet, Brennan said. 

The library, which is part of the two-location Winnetka-Northfield Library District, leases its space from the village. The U.S. Postal Service also leases space in the building, while Northfield makes use of the remaining space. 

At their June meeting, village trustees heard Brennan’s report before reaching a consensus. He told them that officials from the Winnetka-Northfield Library District, which operates the branch at 1785 Orchard Lane, first contacted village officials in early 2023 about their space concerns. 

“If you’ve been to the library … you’ll definitely agree that new space is something they need,” he said.

A joint study group looked at both finding a new location or expanding the current space, which sits north of Orchard Lane and across Happ Road from Northfield Village Hall; it decided to explore the expansion option further, Brennan said. Northfield then hired the Chicago-based architectural firm of Holabird & Root to do what he called a high-level analysis of the option. 

According to Brennan’s report, that study backed the idea of a one-story expansion on the building’s current south parking lot, while moving public parking south of Orchard Lane. Last October, the village started looking for a design architect. 

Village and library district staff chose the two finalists after reviewing nine firms that answered a request for qualifications last November. Four firms qualified to provide proposals, which the village sought in January. Brennan said he wasn’t naming the two finalists in order to give the village more negotiating leverage. 

In his report, Brennan said the village foresees the design work being done in two phases. The first would look at the current building’s assessment as well as programmatic and schematic design as well as design development.

The second phase would include production of construction documents, bidding and construction administration, he stated. 

Finding dollars for constructing the project hasn’t yet been completed; however Brennan said the cost to hire an architect could run between $145,000 and $165,000. That amount, plus costs to check the site, estimated at $10,000-$15,000 is handled in the 2026 budget, he said. 

In addition to negotiating with the architectural firms, his next task is to develop an agreement with the library district that addresses the design and construction process, lease agreement terms, and funding responsibilities.

Brennan said he hoped to bring a recommendation back to the board in July. 

On Friday, Monica Dombrowski, the library district’s executive director, said she, district staff, and its board members were happy to partner with the village on an expansion project. 

In an email, Dombrowski said the project to provide Northfield residents more library space had been years in the making and added that it will allow the district “to continue meeting community demand for more collections, programs, and spaces in which to gather, play, work, study, and learn. It’s thrilling that the Village understands how essential the library is to community life in Winnetka and Northfield and we are excited to get started on next steps!”

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