Diagonal steel forms and geometric window cutouts are giving the Stanley A. Milner Library a huge makeover as the building undergoes a practical surgery designed to extend its lifespan. The 1967-opened downtown library was shuttered on December 31, 2016 ahead of revitalization plans designed by Teeple Architects and Tkalcic Bengert.

Rendering of the final product, image via Teeple Architects and Tkalcic Bengert

City council approved $62.5 million in 2014 — later raised to $69 million in 2017 — to renew the building's interior spaces and exterior appearance. The revamped building will host more space for library services and programming, including a tripling of the current children's library space, which will be embedded with interactive STEM activities like coding, robotics, and digital creation. Users will also have a dedicated space to explore emerging technologies like 3D printing in a much larger Makerspace.

Stanley A. Milner Library construction, image by Forum contributor Daveography

Stanley A. Milner Library construction, image by Forum contributor Daveography

Brand new spaces for music and art activities are set to be created, plus an additional 4,000 square feet of study spaces and reading areas, and over 2,500 square feet of new community meeting space. A hands-on, multi-storey simulation wall and a high-tech theatre to support guest speakers and performances are also slated to characterize the interior spaces when the building reopens in 2020.

New steel protrudes from the old building, image by Forum contributor Daveography

Additional images and information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.