We have officially broken ground at new site of the Indianapolis Public Library’s Glendale Branch. The project has been designed with LEED certification goals in mind, like photovoltaic solar panels, low flow water fixtures, energy efficient HVAC and lighting, as well as low irrigation plants, to name a few.
The 25,000-square-foot project will finally give the branch its own standalone building, after being located in the Glendale Shopping Center since the year 2000. The library needed easier access for patrons, more daylight and study spaces, and modernization of overall service capability. The new branch will strengthen the library’s civic identity and impact the surrounding area by increasing services and access, which could potentially double the daily visitors to the branch.
Through discussion with library leaders and community engagement sessions, it also became clear that there a desire for a facility with a strong community identity and visual connection to the residential neighborhood it will reside in, while also representing the modern institution of today’s public libraries. Community engagement helped inform the vision for krM’s design team. The community wanted the 5.7-acre site to feel more like a neighborhood park with the library at its center, detailed with timeless materials and warm interior finishes.