What’s ahead for former downtown library? City plans $2M renovation for events
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Council could allocate $2 million in transient guest tax for first-floor renovation
- City will bid concept development and later select architect for conversion
- Plan targets main level: two flex rooms, lobby, accessibility and systems upgrades
The Wichita City Council is taking steps to convert the former downtown library into an event venue.
The council approved allocating $2 million in transient guest tax funds to pay to renovate the first floor of the building at 223 S. Main.
“This initiative will activate a long-vacant civic asset, enhance the Century II campus, and support the City’s cultural and economic vitality,” according to a draft city agenda report for next Tuesday’s council meeting.
The city will go out for bid immediately to begin concept development on the former library space, with the council voting on an architect for the project later, according to the agenda draft.
A draft proposal shared earlier this year by ASM Global, the Los Angeles-based company that manages Century II and would manage the future event center space, provided some details about the plans.
The conversion is likely to include two large, separate flex rooms and a lobby area to accommodate weddings, corporate meetings and banquets.
The proposal identified about $2 million in renovations, including $1.5 million to renovate the restrooms, make window and wall repairs and replace the carpet.
It also includes about $300,000 to renovate the library’s outdoor patio on the same floor.
“Renovations will be limited to the main level only, including improvements for accessibility, life safety systems, heating, ventilation, and cooling and electrical systems, an under-insulated building envelope, asbestos and lead paint abatement and interior finishes,” the draft report read.
The former library has been vacant for years, aside from when it was used as a COVID-19 vaccination center, and when Wichita Mayor Lily Wu used it for her state of the city address earlier this year.
In that speech, Wu proposed using the building for the city’s police headquarters. That idea received insufficient support, leading the city to look for alternatives.
The city has previously tried to find uses for the empty building and has issued multiple requests for proposals for cultural institutions to use the space, including talking about the Wichita Art Museum.
A city spokesperson said they were unaware of any conversations about what can be done with other floors in the building.
“That would be an additional cost if undertaken in the future,” city spokesperson Megan Lovely said in an email to The Eagle.
This story was originally published October 16, 2025 at 5:29 AM.