Things are starting to take shape inside the Escondido library, which has been closed for renovation since April.
The work on the 45,000-square-foot building at 239 S. Kalmia St. in downtown Escondido is a nearly complete overhaul of both floors. The city has been able to do much more than they originally anticipated because bids for the work came in lower than expected, said Robert Rhoades, assistant director of community services for the city.
“We’re modernizing the look and feel of the space; there’s no doubt about that,” Rhoades said. “We’re going to expect a lot more conversation and collaborating.”
Crews have done most of the demolition work inside the building and are nearly done with the plumbing and electrical work. Next steps include drywall, windows and painting.
The customer service desk seen under construction at the Escondido Public Library on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The library is expected to finish construction and reopen this summer. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
“It’s exciting,” said Ron Busch, project manager with Southwest Construction Services, the company doing the work. “This stage is where the sense of pride from a construction perspective comes in to play because you finally get to see what you’re building as opposed to what you’re demolishing.”
Once the construction work is complete, work will start to replace the book stacks and furniture before moving the collection back.
During the construction, the library has moved to a temporary site in storefronts at the North County Mall in southern Escondido. People said they enjoyed the novelty and utility of the mall location. However, some said the downtown library location is much more convenient.
The library is expected to reopen in July. There will likely be a transitional period before it opens when services are limited for about a month, similar to the arrangement when crews moved the collection to the mall location, Rhoades said.
The Escondido library opened in 1981. At the time, libraries were generally more focused on storage for materials than on shared spaces, Library Director Rino Landa said.
“For the public, the biggest change will be the concept of what a library is, meaning we’re not just a place for books; we’re a public space,” he said. “It really is making the library a people-focused space. That’s what it always has been, but now the people will be able to see that much more clearly.”
This mural, “Wild Beauty of the Savannahs,” by Julia Anthony, will be kept at on the second floor of the Escondido Public Library on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The library is expected to reopen this summer. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The work will bring the building into compliance with the with Americans with Disability Act, replace aging roofing and windows, and create new spaces for the public. These spaces include new tween and teen areas, a maker’s space, study pods, reservable meeting spaces, a quiet area, and a food vending area. Eventually, Rhoades said the plan is to bring in a coffee kiosk from a local business to create an experience similar to some bookstores.
The work at the library building is being paid for with $10 million from the Building Forward Library Infrastructure Program Grant. An additional $311,445 in Library Trust Funds will be used for items excluded from the grant such as furniture, fixtures and equipment. The Escondido Library Foundation also donated up to $105,000 to buy furniture and equipment for the children’s library.
“At the beginning, we didn’t really expect this to be a full renovation of the building. It was meant to be just critical infrastructure,” Landa said, pointing to the positive collaboration between the city and the contractor in adding scope to the project.
Two separate projects are also underway on the building that will be completed by the time the library opens, the installation of solar panels in the parking lot starting in April and a mural being painted on the outside of the building to honor the creation story of the Kumeyaay Nation.
This mural, “Wild Beauty of the Savannahs,” by Julia Anthony, will be kept at on the second floor of the Escondido Public Library on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The library is expected to reopen this summer. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Artist Tim Topalov said he expects the mural to be finished in the next few weeks. An unveiling ceremony is being planned for the summer in conjunction with the reopening of the library.
It’s incredibly rewarding to see the mural come together and to be able to connect with the community over the public art, Topalov said.
“It’s astounding, as an artist, being able to see your work to scale,” he explained. “It’s a feeling of living, of being in your purpose. There’s really nothing like it.”