The remodel of the old Round Rock Public Library at 216 East Main Street kicked off Monday, May 6.
The 44,000-square-foot building, which will maintain its designation as the Griffith Building, will include the Round Rock Visitors Center and a two-story Arts and Culture gallery on the first floor, and the Round Rock Chamber on the second floor. The north side of the building will provide additional flex space for City operations.
In addition to a remodel of the building, the City relocated the Palm House in January 2024, which previously housed the Round Rock Chamber on Main Street, to the Old Settlers Association near its original home along Palm Valley Boulevard. The space provided by the move allows the City to build a paseo, or walkway, that connects Prete Plaza and the courtyard for the recently-opened Round Rock Public Library, which is adjacent to a new 289-space parking garage.
The total cost of the project is $19.5 million. Approximately $10.7 million in Type B sales tax revenues were approved in September 2023 by the City Council and the Round Rock Transportation and Economic Development Corporation (Type B) to fund the paseo and Chamber portions of the project. Approximately $4.6 million in hotel occupancy tax revenues, which are paid by visitors staying in Round Rock hotels, will fund the renovation of the art gallery and visitors center, as well as the relocation of the Palm House. Another $4.2 million in General Self Finance Construction funding approved in the FY23-24 budget will cover the remaining costs of the project.
The project is expected to be completed in early 2026.
