Library board OKs expansion architect

The Cook Memorial Public Library District board has hired an architect to design a proposed $12 million expansion plan.

Gilfillan Callahan Architects, a Rolling Meadows firm, got the job on Tuesday. Its fee for the assignment is based on a percentage of the eventual construction costs and could be at least $600,000, library officials said.

The firm specializes in designing public buildings in the Chicago area. It's previously completed projects in Round Lake Unit District 116 and Woodland Elementary District 50, among other districts.

It also designed a Glenview fire station, the water park at Six Flags Great America and an expansion of the Roselle police station.

The contract was approved 5-1.

Board member Ann E. Oakley, who has repeatedly spoken against and voted against the expansion plan, opposed the deal. Board member Chris Dalton was absent.

Officials want to open a new library in Vernon Hills and expand the main library in Libertyville. The panel is considering two plans.

One is for the main library to be expanded by about 10,000 square feet, and the construction of a new 20,000-square-foot library on land on Aspen Drive south of Route 60. That property is owned by the village of Vernon Hills.

The other option includes the same expansion at the main library, but would put a new Vernon Hills library in a vacant retail space on the 700 block of Deerpath Drive.

The board intends to borrow the money and use annual budget surpluses to pay it back.

Gilfillan Callahan was the board's second choice for the job. It initially pursued Engberg Anderson Design Parternship, a Milwaukee firm, but broke off contract negotiations because the company's fee would've been higher than what the board was willing to pay.