The City of Airdrie is looking for resident input as to what community facilities they'd like to see alongside the new Airdrie Public Library in the soon-to-be-built multi-use facility.

In mid-May of 2021, Airdrie City Council approved the up to 85,000 square foot facility which will go where the old fire hall currently sits in the city's downtown. The new library has been approved for 60,000 of that square footage and the city has now released a survey asking Aidronians what they want to see in the remaining 25,000 square feet.

Photo: City of Airdrie

According to the survey, the multi-use space is "envisioned to facilitate services and activities that partner well with the library’s plan of service, and could include businesses, art/artisan spaces, or other community services."

Michelle Lock, Project Director for the multi-use facility, says the feedback received from the survey will go through a few phases before a final decision is made.

"The consultants will consolidate and analyze the feedback to understand what the community says about programs or services that they would like to see in the community that may not exist today and then they will analyze how the feedback is aligned with what the Library Board is planning for new services in the facility."

When the survey closes on July 31, Lock says the general timeline of when an official decision is made depends on how long certain phases of planning will take

"On the 25,000 square feet that's for these multi-use spaces Council will get a series of consolidated information that says here's some options based on community input."

The community input will have two elements, according to Lock. One element being community-based organizations and what they indicate their needs are. The other element is the more general citizen and resident responses with feedback as to what they think would work best for them in the facility.

Elizabeth Hall, a local Airdrie artist and founder of the Airdrie Artist Facebook Group, made a statement in early June calling on City Council to build a new visual arts center. In the multi-use facility survey, a visual arts center is an option one can choose.

Read more on Elizabeth Hall's story by CLICKING HERE.

To take the survey and give your input on what you'd like to see alongside the new library CLICK HERE.