‘Extreme makeover’ an understatement for this grocery store-turned-civic destination.
Attendees likely won’t recognize the former Hy-Vee grocery store at the grand opening for Olathe’s Indian Creek Library on October 19.
An illuminated mosaic screen of steel sunshades already brightens Olathe’s night sky and draws attention to the library. During the day, ample windows and skylights allow daylight to stream into various gathering and collaboration spaces, generous children and teens zones, reading nooks and collections. Views will look onto courtyard and garden spaces, and an allee of trees and water features where once there was uninterrupted asphalt. Delightful touchstones will include a bubble wall and an 18-foot-long gas fireplace.
Bob Miller, the Indian Creek Library manager, thinks visitors will love what the ‘new’ location will have to offer. Reflecting on the communal role of the fireplace, Bob says, “People are going to want to sit here and have fireside chats, drink their coffee or cocoa, or just read a book.” Even the reclaimed elm framing the fireplace and adorning many of the library’s surfaces bears local significance.
Bob shares more about these features in a City’s of Olathe behind-the-scenes Facebook video series:
While the City has been counting down the weeks to the Grand Opening, Olathe Public Library has been posting weekly features of this 46,000 SF project since the start of 2019. The highly visual construction updates guide visitors through the design decisions, inner workings, and exciting elements. Check out the interactive LED wall, meet the pastry shop owner and chef setting up shop there, or peek under the raised floor that will flexibly route power and Internet throughout the library.
Group 4 has been working with Kansas City based Gould Evans on the project design since 2017. And we’ve been working with OPL since its 2012 facility master plan, through facility programming, and navigating a broken water main that necessitated the relocation. Today we’re thrilled to see our longstanding collaborations culminating in a tremendous impact on the city’s public library services.
We’ll be attending the October 19 opening and will have more pics and stories to share soon!
Images courtesy of Olathe Public Library. Renderings by Gould Evans. Check out the full design development presentation.
