Merri-bek City Council today launched the Coburg Library and Piazza design competition.

The design competition is the first big step in Council’s exciting chapter of delivering a new $60 million library and piazza for the vibrant and diverse suburb of Coburg.

This design competition will see multi-disciplinary teams vie to create a new library that includes cultural and community uses, and a new piazza that provides multi-functional space and increased tree canopy coverage.

A jury of design experts has been selected to assess entries. This jury comprises Government Architect for Victoria, Jill Garner; Director of Sibling Architecture, Qianyi Lim; Associate Professor of Architecture, Monash University, Maryam Gusheh; Director of Jones and Whitehead, and Adjunct Professor of Landscape Architecture at RMIT University, Ron Jones; and Director Community at Merri-bek City Council, Eamonn Fennessy.

Overseen by the Professional Advisor (CityLab) the design competition will be run as a two-step process comprising an initial expression of interest phase followed by concept design response by the shortlisted parties. The competition process and framework has been developed by CityLab and conforms with the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) Architectural Competitions Policy. Information for applicants CityLab | Making Better Cities | Coburg Library and Piazza.

The competition winner will be announced in late 2025.

In May 2025, Council endorsed the south-eastern portion of the Waterfield Street West site as the location for the Coburg Library and Piazza. This is the part of the site that does not include the Coles supermarket building (which currently houses Schoolhouse Studios as a temporary use). Council also resolved to explore the feasibility of basement car parking underneath the library and/or piazza.

See proposed preferred location, highlighted in pink below.

What happens next

Once the winning entry for the design competition is awarded by an independent jury of design experts, the draft concept design will be returned for Council endorsement and then for community engagement in January 2026.

At that time, you will have an opportunity to share your thoughts on the draft concept design for the new library and piazza. Hit the '+Follow' button at the top of this page to receive email updates when we begin consultation.