Madison Chooses Contractor for Long-Awaited Imagination Center

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – A contract has been awarded for the long-awaited Imagination Center on Madison’s East Side. 

It’s a unique plan: it will be the city’s first library inside a park. It’s a partnership between the Madison Parks Department, the Madison Library, the Madison Library Foundation and Madison Engineering. 

Advocates fought hard for the project, saying the area desperately needed resources. The goal is to provide services to residents, including the folks experiencing homelessness in Reindahl Park. It’s expected to help 26,000 people. 

Corporate Contractors of Beloit came in way below budget. The city expected costs of over $18 million, but their bid was $13.2 million. The contract was approved at this week’s meeting of the Madison Common Council. 

Leaders had previously said they want to start construction this summer, and open the Imagination Center next year.