The Cairns City Council relocated to new premises in 1998 leaving the Abbott Street Council Chambers available for a new use as a city library. The design for the adaptive reuse of the building includes reinstatement of the significant original features of the building with extensions to provide large open spaces to house a modern library complete with economical and efficient services.

Sustainability and climatic considerations include pergolas to shade windows, appropriate roof drainage and covered wet weather access into the building. The park surrounds have been upgraded to reflect its increased civic prominence and to encourage community use as a much valued inner city park area.