In the heart of downtown Lexington is the six-story, 108,000 square foot Central Library. The 30-year-old building has significant issues with wayfinding, building flow, access to daylight, and fragmented staff spaces. Group 4 led a redesign study for the Central Library that reimagined its role for service citywide as well as for neighborhood service to residents in the downtown area.

To better welcome visitors, Group 4 redesigned the entry experience and the building’s relationship to the adjacent park and plaza. A dramatic new public stair in the five-story atrium is proposed, linking all public service floors for the first time for improved wayfinding and access. The suggested changes would transform the ground floor from a sleepy space to a vibrant and active new customer experience. Operational improvements include reducing the number of service desks and reorganizing back-of-house spaces for better functionality.