Frankfort Library Tables Reading Room Project Over Higher-Than-Expected Engineering Costs

Article Summary: The Frankfort Public Library Board of Trustees voted to table a proposal from architectural firm StudioGC for a planned reading room project after engineering fees came in significantly higher than anticipated, driving up the overall cost.

Reading Room Project Key Points:

• The board unanimously voted to table the reading room project proposal from StudioGC.

• The proposal’s cost was inflated by unexpectedly high engineering fees.

• The library director has tasked StudioGC with seeking additional, more competitive engineering bids before the project moves forward.

Plans for a new reading room at the Frankfort Public Library were put on pause Thursday, July 24, 2025, after the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to table a design proposal due to cost concerns.

The proposal from the architectural firm StudioGC included a compensation line item that was much higher than the design fee for the project. According to library officials, StudioGC explained this was because the initial proposal they received from an engineering firm was higher than expected.

The reading room project has been on hold since 2024, when the library’s application for an Illinois State Library grant was denied. The library is now working under a tight 140-day deadline from a different grant, which stipulates that construction must begin within that timeframe. The minutes note that StudioGC had assumed there was not adequate time to solicit further engineering bids to find a lower price.

However, Library Director Amanda Kowalcze contacted the grant office and confirmed that “construction” can be defined as progress toward securing a contractor, such as soliciting bids. With this clarification, the board determined there was time to seek more competitive pricing. Kowalcze asked StudioGC to seek further engineering proposals, which the firm promised to provide by the August board meeting.

Trustee Faris made a motion to table the proposal, which was seconded by Trustee Otway and approved by a unanimous roll call vote.