Supply delay pushes new Frisco library opening to late October

Frisco residents will have to wait a few more months than originally expected to check out the new city library.

The Frisco Public Library is moving from the George A. Purefoy Municipal Center into the former Beal Building at 8000 Dallas Parkway. A renovation of the building is funded by a $62 million bond, which was approved by voters in 2019 for the relocation of the library.

Chief Innovation Officer Jason Cooley said equipment for air conditioning has been delayed by 12 weeks in a Feb. 15 City Council workshop. The project is the first during the COVID-19 pandemic where the city has encountered a “significant” issue in procurement of items, Cooley said.

“I usually tell you we’re on time and on budget: We are on budget,” Cooley said. “It is a major item that we have to have.”

Other than the delay, Cooley said the project is moving along. Frisco City Council on Feb. 1 approved purchases for IT equipment, which is expected to be in-hand around June. Building walls are beginning to be sealed, Cooley added.

“We're moving in the right direction,” he said. “We are experiencing some of those challenges that you've heard about in the industry, and hopefully we can get past that.”

In addition, Cooley said the life-size dinosaur model planned for the new library is currently being fabricated in Tennessee. The library is currently reviewing potential names for the dinosaur that were submitted by the general public.

“It’s huge,” Cooley said. “We knew it was big, but when you start to see the video of it being fabricated, it’s impressive.”