The Downtown branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh may be checking out of its Smithfield Street space.

Library officials are “exploring lease options” as they seek to expand the branch’s footprint from its current 12,300 square feet to at least 20,000 square feet, spokeswoman Suzanne Thinnes said.

“It’s prudent to explore options when you look at leasing,” she said. “Downtown is a thriving area. We want to make sure we have the library service to accommodate not only the residents of Downtown Pittsburgh but the business commuters who come in.”

The Downtown branch has been in its space at 612 Smithfield since 2005. It occupies two floors in an 85,000-square-foot building that also houses the Brooks Brothers clothing store and several other businesses.

Ms. Thinnes said the library is considering a relocation to accommodate the residential growth and influx of new businesses Downtown since it first moved to its current location 13 years ago.

The Downtown branch is one of the library’s busiest sites. It features a children’s library and offers free Wi-Fi and public computers. It also answers more questions than any other neighborhood location, according to the library’s website.

“It not only serves the neighborhood but also a lot of the commuters from the suburbs. A lot of people come in during lunch hour and before or after work,” Ms. Thinnes said.

The Downtown branch’s lease with building owner McKnight Realty Partners expires next year. It hasn’t ruled out staying at its current spot, — located across the street from the former Gimbels department store, now known as the Heinz 57 Center, and also owned by McKnight.

Staying put is one of the options, too, Ms. Thinnes said, adding there is some potential to expand at its current home.

While declining to comment on specific tenants, Izzy Rudolph, McKnight’s president, said the company always works to accommodate their growth and needs.

Ms. Thinnes would not say what other potential sites are under consideration, although one is believed to be the former Macy’s/Kaufmann’s department store located a couple of blocks away on Smithfield.

Philadelphia-based Core Realty is converting the building into 311 apartments, a 160-room Even Hotel, and 120,000 square feet of retail on the first two floors.

It has signed Waffles, INCaffeinated to occupy a 3,000-square-foot spot, but has not announced any other retail deals to date. It began the $100 million conversion in 2015.

Michael Samschick, Core’s president and CEO, could not be reached for comment.

According to the library’s website, the Downtown branch first opened in the City-County Building on Grant Street in 1924. It also has occupied space in the historic Union Trust Building, also on Grant, and in a collaborative location with Point Park University.

At one time the Downtown branch also had space in what was known as the Kaufmann’s Service Annex on Diamond Street, now Forbes Avenue.

Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.

First Published: April 28, 2018, 4:00 a.m.