Category: Library

On Sept 25th, 2019 As part of a $113m bond issue to upgrade all of its facilities, Mid-Continent Public Libraries opened the New Redbridge Library! The facility was designed by Sapp Design Architects and Helix both of Kansas City, Mo.

Sometimes a building is like a good book; its story may have twists and turns and end completely different than how it began.

The Redbridge Library Branch is precisely that, a story of a building that was once a bowling alley, then a hardware store and now, through creative design, became a new modern library that will serve its community in new and imaginative ways.

Libraries are different than those built in the 1980s that were warehouses for books. Nowadays, people’s expectations have evolved, and libraries have to adapt as well. With 14,352 sf of newly renovated space, the new building is 2,300 square feet larger than the previous library. It includes a larger programming room, small meeting rooms, a children’s area, movable furniture, fast Wifi, ebooks, and outdoor seating. While the interior is all-new, the design pays homage to the buildings bowing alley past by transforming the old benching area into fun learning stairs who’s use is up to the imagination of the user.

The new Redbridge library hits the goal of any modern library, which is to become a place where you would want to spend time by creating common spaces that encourage exploration, creation, and collaboration within the community it serves.

Today Mid-Continent Public Library is re-opening The Blue Springs South Branch Library! The Blue Springs South Branch underwent significant changes during renovation, including the following:

• New entry location and signage
• New community room (cap. 140)
• New collaboration rooms
• New teen area
• New furniture additions
• New children’s area
• New reading lounge
• New and updated public computers
• New printer for public use
• Updated children’s computers (AWEs)
• New and improved Wi-Fi coverage and access
• Landscape enhancements

Serving more than 800,000 people in Jackson, Clay, and Platte Counties, Mid Continent Public Library (MCPL) is the largest library system in the Kansas City Metro Area and one of the largest in the country. Over the last year, the design team of Sapp Design Architects and Helix Architecture + Design has been working with MCPL to prepare for the official launch of their capital program, which kicked off in May.

Funded by the overwhelming passage of Proposition L in 2016, MCPL is investing $113 million dollars into enhancing all 31 existing branches and constructing two new locations. Of the 31 existing branches, MCPL will be replacing four with new buildings, expanding three with substantial building additions and renovating all 24 others. While the upgrades at each branch vary based on individual community needs and the building’s current condition, the improvements will help ensure that branches serve the needs of modern library users.

Sapp and Helix are working collaboratively to bring the firms’ combined expertise with 21st-century libraries, architecture and interior design to each branch. As technology has increasingly become our conduit to knowledge, public libraries are evolving into community centers and cultural hubs that offer a wide variety of services and programs. MCPL and design team members from Helix and Sapp held a series of 29 public meetings to gather input from library users. These meetings helped inform the programs, spaces, and technologies that will be most impactful for each branch and the community it serves.

MCPL and the Sapp | Helix design team worked closely with Construction Manager, JE Dunn Construction to develop a phased approach to construction. Phase I projects, which kicked off in June, include the Blue Springs South Branch, Excelsior Springs Branch, Antioch Branch and Midwest Genealogy Center. Additional Phase I projects will kick-off this summer, including the Oak Grove, Weston, and Platte City branches. During the renovations, customers will be directed to alternate locations to conduct their Library business.

Phase II is anticipated to kick off in Fall of 2018 and Phases III and IV in 2019. The library is targeting completion of all upgrades by 2022. The latest updates on projects can be found at www.mymcpl.org/community

It was a beautiful morning for a reopening celebration at MCPL Antioch Branch in Gladstone. Instead of a ribbon cutting, we had a book page turning to the next chapter. There was a great crowd and the project turned out great.

Sapp Design is proud to be a part of this five-year project to upgrade all 31 branches for Mid-Continent Public Library.

Serving more than 800,000 people in Jackson, Clay, and Platte Counties, Mid Continent Public Library (MCPL) is the largest library system in the Kansas City Metro Area and one of the largest in the country. Over the last year, the design team of Sapp Design Architects and Helix Architecture + Design has been working with MCPL to prepare for the official launch of their capital program, which kicked off in May.

Funded by the overwhelming passage of Proposition L in 2016, MCPL is investing $113 million dollars into enhancing all 31 existing branches and constructing two new locations. Of the 31 existing branches, MCPL will be replacing four with new buildings, expanding three with substantial building additions and renovating all 24 others. While the upgrades at each branch vary based on individual community needs and the building’s current condition, the improvements will help ensure that branches serve the needs of modern library users.

The new Pacific Branch of Scenic Regional Library opened on September 29th, 2018. This new 10,000 Sf Community focuses library has two meeting rooms, two shaded patios, cafe, fireplace, self-check system, a teen gaming area and even a 55-in touchscreen tablet with literacy games.

The new Pacific branch of Scenic Regional Library was part of an approved a two-year $12.8 Million plan to replace and/or upgrade seven branch libraries, covering three rural counties just west of St. Louis. As library design experts Sapp Design served as the Design Architect of Record to work with the various communities and Library Director, Steve Campbell, to create new landmark Libraries, each one being unique to their community while at the same time having a consistent “brand” or image throughout the library district.

Serving more than 800,000 people in Jackson, Clay, and Platte Counties, Mid Continent Public Library (MCPL) is the largest library system in the Kansas City Metro Area and one of the largest in the country. Over the last year, the design team of Sapp Design Architects and Helix Architecture + Design has been working with MCPL to prepare for the official launch of their capital program, which kicked off in May.

Funded by the overwhelming passage of Proposition L in 2016, MCPL is investing $113 million dollars into enhancing all 31 existing branches and constructing two new locations. Of the 31 existing branches, MCPL will be replacing four with new buildings, expanding three with substantial building additions and renovating all 24 others. While the upgrades at each branch vary based on individual community needs and the building’s current condition, the improvements will help ensure that branches serve the needs of modern library users.

Sapp and Helix are working collaboratively to bring the firms’ combined expertise with 21st-century libraries, architecture and interior design to each branch. As technology has increasingly become our conduit to knowledge, public libraries are evolving into community centers and cultural hubs that offer a wide variety of services and programs. MCPL and design team members from Helix and Sapp held a series of 29 public meetings to gather input from library users. These meetings helped inform the programs, spaces, and technologies that will be most impactful for each branch and the community it serve

MCPL and the Sapp | Helix design team worked closely with Construction Manager, JE Dunn Construction to develop a phased approach to construction. Phase I projects, which kicked off in June, include the Blue Springs South Branch, Excelsior Springs Branch, Antioch Branch and Midwest Genealogy Center. Additional Phase I projects will kick-off this summer, including the Oak Grove, Weston, and Platte City branches. During the renovations, customers will be directed to alternate locations to conduct their Library business.

Phase II is anticipated to kick off in Fall of 2018 and Phases III and IV in 2019. The library is targeting completion of all upgrades by 2022. The latest updates on projects can be found at www.mymcpl.org/community