APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Appleton Public Library Board of Trustees now knows what the new, more $30 million library will look like. Architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill of Chicago unveiled renderings of the renovated library in a presentation to the board Friday.
And board members couldn’t be happier.
“It certainly is a welcoming picture that we see – a design for a reconfigured building; a reuse of our current building and reaching out into the future,” said board president Nancy Scheuerman.
Pavilions added to the façade of the structure are meant to entice people to go into the library, but to also bring the library out to the community to be a focal part of the city.
“We see it as critically important to the city of Appleton to keep growing it, and the fact that it’s here in center of Appleton is even more exciting,” Scheuerman said.
For Skidmore, Owings and Merrill senior architect Jason Fisher, originally from the Appleton area, he’s thrilled for this project, too.
“Oh, I’m super excited!” Fisher said. “I mentioned in the presentation, but I have a niece and nephew, and other family here, and I really am looking forward to spending time with them in the library, because it’ll be a great space.”
The renovation and expansion of the current building will also include upwards of 100 geothermal wells for heating.
The new library will be getting a new solar rooftop, as well, with more than 200 panels.
“Sustainable design is important, because it’s good for the environment, but also because it saves on energy costs and makes it a much better investment for the community,” said Fisher.
The way the new library will look is almost like night and day from what it looks like now, even though it is essentially the same building.
And, aside from giving it an interior that’s light and welcoming, another big focus for architects was making a library centered around children.
“All the library patrons love the children’s section, family love the children’s section,” Fisher said.
While construction is taking place, the library will move to a temporary location inside the former east side Best Buy.
The Appleton Library will begin the move to the Best Buy location April 12.
It’ll be closed for about six weeks during the move, and the first day it will be open at the temporary building will be May 23.
