"Youth services is growing up. Literally," Youth Services Supervisor Shay Brooks told the Richardson Public Library Board in August, as reported by the Richardson-Garland Herald. The children's area used to fit on the main floor. In the renovated building it takes up parts of two floors.
The building has also turned around. Its glass, its new entrance and its drop-off lane all point toward the new City Hall, which is still behind construction fencing next door. The library is the first of two buildings Richardson designed to face each other across the Civic Center Fountain. For the next several months, it will face a job site.
The temporary library at 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd. closed at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. That started what the city estimates will be a six-week move back to 421 W. Arapaho Rd. The city expects to reopen "later this fall" and says it will announce a specific grand reopening date.
A building turned toward its neighbor
The original library closed on Sept. 9, 2023, at the address the city then listed as 900 Civic Center Dr. When architects Steinberg Hart and Architexas briefed the City Council that month, the biggest exterior changes all faced east and south.
- The third-floor east wall, facing the Fountain Plaza, swaps much of its concrete for glass. That brings in natural light and a view of the fountain and the new City Hall.
- The main entrance moves to the southeast corner and gets a new drop-off lane. The city said the move gives better access to the Fountain Plaza and makes the library easier to reach from City Hall.
- A glass-enclosed staircase goes on the south side.
- A drive-up book drop goes on the left side of the building.
The rest of the campus plan finishes the picture. The approved concept puts the new City Hall along Arapaho Road between the library and US 75. The former City Hall site becomes green space, and the Fountain Plaza connects the library and the new hall. The plan calls for about 86 more trees on campus than before the redevelopment. The city describes new areas between the library and City Hall meant to host community events. The library's new front door sits where that plaza will eventually be.
Where the extra 12,000 square feet went
The library grew from 71,583 square feet to 83,576 without spreading onto new ground. Much of the added space came from infill: floors two and three gained more than 6,000 square feet between them. Here is how that space is divided, based on what library staff described to the board in August and the city's design updates:
| Area | What's planned |
|---|---|
| First floor, ages 0–5 | Board-book bins, child-sized seating, an interactive play wall and a small "cozy cave" under the stairs, near what staff call the community living room |
| Children's program room | Seats up to 150, with discovery tables stocked with Duplo blocks, magnet tiles, light boxes and translucent letters and numbers |
| Second floor, ages 6–12 | Their own collections, a laptop kiosk, space for tutors and group projects, and areas for board and card games |
| Teen area, ages 13–18 | Two study rooms, TV monitors that connect to laptops, whiteboards, flexible seating and more shelf space for graphic novels and manga |
| Maker space and test kitchen | 3D printers, a laser cutter, sewing and embroidery machines, a heat press, a dye-sublimation printer and a Cricut cutter; training required before use |
| Podcast room | A sound-focused recording space |
Earlier design plans also included an after-hours holds pickup area, a dedicated local history room with collection displays, and a consolidated adult area. The after-hours pickup area will matter most to anyone whose workday ends after the library closes.
Two public art pieces are planned, both chosen from more than 200 artist applications. The first is "Lighter Than Air" by SOFTlab, a set of colorful suspended aluminum forms that look like bubbles, clouds or butterflies. It will hang in the children's area. The second is "Enchanted Silicon Prairie" by Brad Oldham Sculpture, which features oversized Texas wildflowers, a stack of books and a 20-inch mirror-polished stainless steel version of Oldham's BIRD character. Other versions of BIRD were on loan near the Civic Center Fountain during arts celebrations in 2015 and 2016. The selection panel liked the link between the old and the new. The new piece is planned for the entrance drive. As of the Herald's September report, both works were still described as planned.
Why the finish line kept moving
The city's own updates show how the schedule moved:
- September 2023: Construction to finish by the end of 2025.
- February 2024: Expected completion of January 2026, with a guaranteed maximum price of $31.4 million out of a total budget of $48.1 million. That budget combined $36.1 million from the 2021 Bond Program and $12 million in Certificates of Obligation.
- May 2025: Grand reopening on schedule for the first quarter of 2026.
- October 2025: About halfway complete, with an opening expected in mid-2026.
- September 2026: Reopening "later this fall."
The city said the building's age caused problems. Crews found asbestos and structural inconsistencies during demolition, which required extensive fire suppression coring and scanning for structural tie-ins. According to the Richardson-Garland Herald, water infiltration also added time. The original plan waterproofed the east side, and water was later found coming in on the west side. The same report says Mayor Amir Omar mentioned Oct. 31 as a target at an August town hall. The city's later closure notice did not repeat that date and gave the six-week move estimate instead. Six weeks from Oct. 11 is late November. Until the city announces a date, that is the most specific estimate available.
The library kept running through the wait. Staff told the board that adults and children logged about 1.5 million minutes of reading during the summer 2026 program.
The weeks with no building at all
The temporary library was open for almost three years. Until the move is done, Richardson has no physical library.
- Due dates on items checked out before the closure are extended until the library reopens. The book drop is closed, and a new one will open at the renovated building.
- Monthly book clubs and the Spookilicious Halloween program continue on schedule in the City Hall Multi-Purpose Room.
- The myRPL Digital Library stays open for e-books, audiobooks, research databases and language-learning tools.
- Staff answer the phone at 972-744-4280 during normal library hours and reply to emails sent to [email protected].
For physical books, three nearby systems offer free cards to Richardson residents, according to each library's current policy page:
- Garland Public Libraries lists Richardson in its service area, so cards are free. Texas residents outside that area pay $50 a year.
- Allen Public Library requires Texas residency, not Allen residency. It does not accept TexShare cards for borrowing. Richardson's own library notice lists Allen among the neighbors offering free cards to Richardson residents.
- Lewisville Public Library gives a free full-privilege card to any Texas resident. People who live outside Lewisville must apply in person.
Dallas Public Library works differently. A TexShare card lets a Richardson resident borrow up to five physical items at a time, without digital content. A nonresident card costs $250 a year, and punch cards start at $25 for five items. The statewide TexShare card program was still running in 2026. The Texas State Library updated its participation guidance on Aug. 20, 2026.
A front door facing a fence, for now
The library will reopen next to a campus that is only half finished. The new City Hall, about 98,500 square feet, sits northeast of the old one near US 75 and Arapaho Road. Crews placed its final structural beam at a topping-off ceremony in December 2025. The city named McCownGordon Construction, AECOM and Architexas as project partners and said work would continue through 2026, with an opening expected in early 2027. The construction contract is $65.6 million, out of $68.4 million voters approved through the 2021 and 2023 bond programs. The city says insurance money from the 2022 fire also helps pay for it.
So for a few months after the reopening, the third-floor glass will look out on construction. The new southeast entrance, placed to be convenient from City Hall, will open before City Hall itself does. In July 2024, the city said it planned to issue a call for artists for New City Hall and Civic Plaza public art. Residents can follow the work through live camera views at cor.net/NewCityHall.
At Clinton Asalu, we track projects like the Arapaho Road campus because they change how a part of town works day to day. If you live near the Civic Center and want to know how this redevelopment and the other bond projects nearby fit into the bigger picture, let's connect. We're glad to walk you through it, or start with an instant home valuation whenever you're curious.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
