Keep an eye on progress on the new Billings Public Library building by checking in on our webcam of the construction site. 

The 66,000 square foot building, designed by Will Bruder + Partners, is scheduled to be complete in late 2013. After the Library moves into its new quarters, the current building will be demolished to make way for a 100-space parking garden. The entire project will be completed no later than June 2014.

Funding for the building was provided by a City voter-approved $16.3 million bond issue, with $3 million of those bonds to be retired by a successful capital campaign conducted by the Parmly Billings Library Foundation, which also secured a $2 million initial gift from an anonymous donor for the architectural and engineering services through construction.

May 2013
The Story Cone is taking shape. It will reach from the first floor Children's area, through the second floor and roof, reaching a height equal to the current building. Story times and programs for small children will take place in the Cone, with a view to the sky above.

April 2013
Plumbing, electrical, sprinkler system installation; stairway poured; interior framing completed; installation of HVAC equipment;

March 2013
Special floor areas poured; duct work installed; exterior framing completed; interior framing begins; exterior insulation applied;  Roof insulation and membrane applied.

February 2013
Second level subfloor poured; big crane departs; exterior framing begins, foundation dug for water feature;

January 2013
First floor subfloor laid;structural steelwork moves west, roof trusses going up; outline emerges; first interior views; roof deck goes on.

December 2012
Steel structure starts to rise, tree rises for the holidays

November 2012
Structural steel arrives and is prepared; masonry work continues

October 2012
Storm drainage pipes and major conduits installed; preparation for first concrete floors, two slabs poured; arrival of the big crane.

August - September 2012
Foundation footings and walls poured, masonry walls begun.

Groundbreaking for new library: June 2012
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new library took place on Thursday, June 28th. See coverage from local news providers:
Billings Gazette:    New Library's start gets official Celebration
                                People Outline the New Library Building
KTVQ-2 Television:   Library Supporters Celebrate Groundbreaking

Site Preparation: April-May 2012

• Overexcavation - Beginning in early May, 14,000 cubic yards of clay were removed from the site of the new building and replaced with architectural gravel. The overexcavation was completed in late June. Completed on schedule.
• Utility Relocation - All utilities were re-routed from the alley west of the current Library building and buried so as to avoid the new building site. The relocation took 6-8 weeks and was completed by mid-May. Completed on schedule
• Underriner Building Demolition - H.L.Ostermiller Construction of Billings completed demolition by April 27. Completed on schedule.

Will Bruder + Partners are the design architects for the Library project and have partnered with O2 Architects of Billings. The design team, in collaboration with students from the Community Design Center at the School of Architure at Montana State University in Bozeman, held dozens of public meetings and focus groups involving hundreds of people during 2011 to ensure that the design was developed transparently and with extensive community input. 

The Library Design Committee consisted of Billings citizens appointed by the Library Board of Trustees to advise the Board on all matters related to the planning, design, and construction of a new downtown library building.    
Design Committee Members  
Design Committee Scope of Work

Design Committee Meetings 
Design Committee Meeting Notes:

February 1, 2011 March 1, 2011 May 3, 2011 June 14, 2011

August 16, 2011 October 18, 2011 December 13, 2011 January 17, 2012

February 21, 2012 April 3, 2012 June 27, 2012 September 4, 2012

November 8, 2012

Planning Documents
The Library's Strategic Plan, Business Plan and site study reports can be found on the Parmly Billings Library Reports Page.

Parmly Billings Library Foundation
The Parmly Billings Library Foundation was instrumental in supporting the new library with a pledge of $5 million towards the cost of the project. Learn more about the Parmly Billings Library Foundation.