Trustees criticize architects after preliminary drawings presented at brainstorming meeting

Trustees and staff told the board they were disappointed after a recent hybrid meeting with the architects for a major library building project in which preliminary drawings were shown unexpectedly.

Members of the building committee said the session had been intended as a brainstorming meeting with staff; instead, they were presented with preliminary drawings and the architects had no digital files available for hybrid participants. A building-committee speaker said the delivery “completely shocked me,” and trustees described the outcome as disheartening because it undermined staff buy-in on a high‑value project funded by the trustees’ capital planning process.

Trustees asked the capital planner Joe and staff to reconvene a proper brainstorming session—this time with full digital access for hybrid participants—so managers and staff can provide substantive feedback. The board emphasized the project is large and requires both staff support and clearer communication from consultants going forward.

No formal action was taken beyond directing staff and the capital planner to schedule a follow-up meeting; trustees will monitor how the architect responds and whether the consultant corrects the presentation approach.