Palm Desert Council Approves $30M Conceptual Design For New Library

The Palm Desert City Council last month unanimously approved a $30 million conceptual design option for the new public library.

“I think it’s a beautiful conceptual design,” Councilmember Joe Pradetto said of the Richärd Kennedy Architects design. “It’s a library that I think we need to do right, and I think this does it right.”

The proposed design is inspired by the natural environment of the desert, specifically the palm grove. The shade structure above mimics the fronds of the palm tree in its design, with boulder forms that highlight key areas of the facility and the major pathways through the site and building that draw on the flow of a river.

“We’ve got the pattern of the palm fronds from where it was abstracted from the natural to the built structure that they’re proposing for the shade structure on the outdoor shaded area,” Ryan Lamb, senior project manager for the city, said. “And the buildings represent the rocks and the pedestrian flow for the river flow in the interior.”

Under that palm tree canopy are two structures. The smaller of the two includes space for a cafe and multipurpose room, while the main library features areas for children’s, young adult and adult literature along with a common area and separate space for library staff. 

“The project budget, we did an outline for the budget where we had the $20 million that is from the bonds, and the $4 million returned from the county, which got us to $24 [million],” Lamb said. “And then we’re looking to get another six up from the upcoming Measure G funds, and we’ll be looking to appropriate those in the next within the next fiscal year.”

Council members also asked that the new library include pieces that tie the facility to the city’s history, including potentially using similar materials to other structures in the city like the stonework at City Hall and bringing over the plaques from the former library that honored the council who made that facility a reality.

“I mean, if the completion is set for [2027] and the original dedication was [1997], I think it would be a little sentimental touch,” Councilmember Karina Quintanilla said. “I mean, if we can’t keep any of the essential architecture or keep it looking the same, at least [we can show that these] are the original visionaries that wanted the library here, and we’ve maintained that.”

Now that the council has approved the conceptual design, Lamb said Richärd Kennedy Architects was ready to start on the schematic design phase, which includes the entitlement process.

“As we get towards the end of that phase, we’ll be looking to put it out to bid for a design/build firm to then complete the construction documents and ultimately build the facility,” Lamb said. “We’d be looking to demo the Parkview Building in early 2026, and if all the planets align, we could be looking at a new building complete by the end of 2027.”