Crews nearing finish of renovated Library Innovation Center in downtown Greeley

Posted on March 7, 2023 by Design in Design Innovation | 0 Comments

A new destination for downtown Greeley is nearing completion as crews finish construction of the High Plains Library District’s Library Innovation Center, expected to open in May.

The 62,000-square-foot Library Innovation Center, or LINC, will feature traditional library space, makerspaces, an events area, a courtyard, innovation spaces, a children’s museum, a recording studio and more.

In the library area, patrons will be welcomed by a “river of books” with curved bookshelves that are just one feature of the water-themed design of the building. The river of books design continues into the children’s section on the north side.

An empty bookshelf is seen inside the High Plains Library District's Library Innovation Center on Thursday as construction continues on the $31 million renovation at 501 8th Ave. in Greeley. A grand opening is tentatively planned for mid-May. (Trevor Reid/News Editor) — An empty bookshelf is seen inside the High Plains Library District’s Library Innovation Center on Thursday as construction continues on the $31 million renovation at 501 8th Ave. in Greeley. A grand opening is tentatively planned for mid-May. (Trevor Reid/News Editor)

On the outside of the building, perforations on a metal screen will display the northern Colorado watershed, allowing natural light in during the day and glowing at night.

Crews are already moving in furniture and even beginning to shelve some books as the final construction is being completed. The district broke ground in September 2021, after purchasing the former location of the Greeley Tribune for $4 million the month before. The Tribune moved to 2400 16th St., Suite C, with mail accepted at PO Box 337228, Greeley, CO 80633-7228.

The district’s former downtown location was torn down to construct the DoubleTree by Hilton Greeley at Lincoln Park, 919 7th St. The library has temporarily maintained a downtown branch in a small building at 1012 11th St.

The backside of the new LINC library shows a mural giving the new High Plains District Library flair on Wednesday March 1, 2023.(Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)

City officials celebrated the hotel and conference center as a way to attract more conferences and events to Greeley. The LINC is getting similar praise, as its innovative features are expected to attract more people to downtown Greeley.

City officials recently approved an updated strategic plan for downtown Greeley which identifies three sub-areas: Central Downtown in the northwest, University Uptown to the south and the Railway District mostly east of 7th Avenue. The LINC will sit in Central Downtown at the edge of the Railway District, which officials envision as a makerspace district.

The LINC will feature multiple makerspaces — or areas that offer patrons an opportunity to create in different media using a variety of equipment — including one near the entrance with laser cutters, 3-D printers and UV printers.

At the north end of the building, innovation spaces will be available with a “wet and dirty” space, where classes could be taught on everything from oil changes — the innovation spaces have garage doors opening to the outside — to blood-spatter analysis. A “loud and dirty” space will be available for woodworking, including a table saw and other tools.

James Melena, High Plains Library District community relations and marketing manager, said the innovation spaces will be flexible for all kinds of crafting.

Across from the innovation spaces is a sound-proof recording studio with rooms where guests can record podcasts and videos with a green screen. Melena said the library worked with Philip Van Drunen of the Bikeshop Agency in Greeley to configure the space.

Crews are seen working on the interior of the Library Innovation Center, 501 8th Ave., on Thursday from atop the stairs across from the main entrance. Construction is expected to be completed in April before a mid-May grand opening. (Trevor Reid/News Editor)

A centrally located arts and crafts space will also connect to an interactive children’s museum installation on the second floor. The installation will feature LED panels with RGB lighting control, a paper airplane and rocket launcher cabinet and an interactive track with ball feeders. Workstations will also be available.

Wes Bruce, a former Greeley resident and previously an artist-in-residence at the Children’s Museum of Denver, is working on an art installation included with the children’s exhibit. He’s also working with the library’s water theme in the space.

“He’s creating a whole language for water here,” Melena said.

Among the planned features are special sounds or music that can be heard only in certain locations in the installation and coordinated buttons to trigger a holographic display.

On the west side of the building, the LINC will be able to host up to 192 people in an events space with an elevated platform for speakers or performers. Melena said the space could even accommodate conventions at the DoubleTree that may need additional space.

Construction is expected to be completed in April, with a grand opening tentatively planned in mid-May.