Council Approves Albert Park Library Design Contract

San Rafael's City Council voted 5-0 to advance the $105 million library project in Phase 1 with XL Construction Corporation.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Construction

Wide view of an empty construction site with a concrete foundation slab, exposed rebar, and a tower crane arm against a pale sky and distant green hills. — San Rafael's City Council voted 5-0 on November 2 to advance a $105 million Albert Park library project with XL Construction Corporation. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The San Rafael City Council voted 5-0 at its November 2 meeting to approve a Phase 1 progressive design-build contract for the Albert Park library project. Phase 1 covers design, community engagement, and permitting, while construction requires a later amendment and bond-financing authorization.

Why it matters

The approach follows the city's April decision to pursue progressive design-build and is expected to save roughly six months compared with the traditional method. The city says the project labor agreement with local-hire provisions satisfies a state workforce requirement for this delivery method.

The council authorized roughly $6.2 million for Phase 1, including a $5.39 million appropriation from the Measure P fund, against a total estimated project cost of about $105 million. Construction pricing and financing remain unresolved until a later Guaranteed Maximum Price amendment.

The players

XL Construction Corporation

A construction firm selected as the design-build team for the Phase 1 contract on the Albert Park library project.

San Rafael City Council

The elected five-member governing body of the city of San Rafael, California, which approved the contract.

The details

The city received proposals from eight qualified teams and narrowed the field to three finalists before selecting XL Construction Corporation. Under progressive design-build, the team collaborates on design before the city agrees to final scope and price for the planned 50,000-square-foot library at Albert Park, replacing the current building at 1100 E. St.

November 2, 2026: City Council voted 5-0 to approve the Phase 1 contract.
April 2026: City Council agreed to pursue the progressive design-build approach.
Over the next six months: Community comments on the conceptual design are expected.
2028: Construction is targeted to begin.

Market Landscape

Progressive design-build is a delivery method that lets public agencies bring contractors into design early, a shift from the traditional sequence of design followed by bidding. State rules tying this method to a trained local workforce mean San Rafael's labor agreement is a template for comparable municipal projects.

Residents will see the Albert Park library replaced on a schedule the city says is about six months faster than traditional delivery. Public input on the conceptual design is open over the coming months before final scope and price are set.

The takeaway

Public procurement is increasingly using early contractor collaboration to speed delivery, and San Rafael's workforce-linked agreement shows how cities can pair speed with local hiring commitments. Residents who want to shape the design should watch for the coming community comment period.

What happens next

Community comments on the conceptual library design are expected over the next six months, and a Guaranteed Maximum Price amendment must precede construction targeted for 2028.