After 97 years, Carmel’s historic Harrison Memorial Library, designed by famed architect Bernard Maybeck and constructed by master builder Michael J. Murphy, is on track for a major interior renovation to bring it into the 21st century. It will be done with private money – already $2 million has been raised, with $3 million needed to catch up with a $5 million matching gift.
The building belongs to the City of Carmel, its operation is overseen by the Harrison Memorial Board of Trustees and supported by the Carmel Public Library Foundation and Friends of the Carmel Public Library. A study commissioned by the Carmel City Council last year concluded that the historic building was in need of a major overhaul, including electrical, plumbing, technology and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
“We realized it would cost a lot to do all this and we knew the city does not have the funding for it, or the bandwidth. So we stepped up and said we’ll provide the funds,” says Alexandra Fallon, the foundation’s executive director. One estimate is that it could cost as much as $15 million.
They formed a 19-person architect selection committee and selected the firm of Moore Ruble Yudell for its experience in sensitive restorations of historic buildings. All that’s left is approval from the council.
The multi-year project will hopefully be complete in time for the library’s anniversary on March 31, 2028.
“It’s a cherished institution and we want it to be here for the next 100 years for generations to come,” Fallon says.