It's been quite an ordeal, but the Central Library expansion is almost complete. The Interim Central Library, which
opened in Old City Hall after construction began on the expanded
facility in 2002, is scheduled to close on Sept. 8. The Library says it will take 6 weeks to move more than 700,000 volumes.
A grand re-opening is planned for the end of 2007. Was the new building worth the wait?
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Welcome to Property Lines, Indy's source for neighborhood real estate news. Your host is Scott Olson, IBJ's real estate beat
reporter. Edited by Cory Schouten.
It's been quite an ordeal, but the Central Library expansion is almost complete. The Interim Central Library, which
opened in Old City Hall after construction began on the expanded
facility in 2002, is scheduled to close on Sept. 8. The Library says it will take 6 weeks to move more than 700,000 volumes.
A grand re-opening is planned for the end of 2007. Was the new building worth the wait?
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Saw the Indy Men's Chorus "Music of Gilbert & Sullivan" at the Indiana Historical Society on Sunday evening.
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Temporary workers are not "tools" they are people and companies that keep large amounts of temp staff are cheating.
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I miss having them around. I hope one of their stores is in the general Meridian/86th Street area. I will make good use of it.
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The Fringe! Plus, the simple fact that there are so many local faves in such close proximity to each other.
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I remenber, watching the toll road, being built, through South Bend, when I was 10 years old. I believe, back then that it was estimated, that the toll road, would be paid for in 20 years and then it would be free. I am now 71, what happened? Since the power is in the people, by that, I mean that, we the people are in total control of everything. I, suggest that no one ever use the toll road again, let it go broke. We the people can control the price of everything, from groceries to gas, if we would just do it. If we don't pay the asking price, the sellers will lower the price and if we wait awhile, they will lower the price to what we accept as reasonable. I would like to know why a highway like interstate 94, is so well maintained, a much better highway, than the toll road, but has no tolls. I would also like to know why, a sitting governor, with a term limit, maximum of eight years, can lease, public property, for 75 years. Even though I have transponders in both of my trucks and will not be affected by the increase, I have been and will contine to avoid using the toll road. I make many trips from northern Indiana to Chicago, every year, and I prefer the better highway, I94!
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Let's make way for the opening fanfare, and enjoy it.
Why build major libraries in this day and age? This was a WASTE. If you want to reach the people - have more small neighborhood branch libaries, which can be LEASED.
Fools gold this project was.
succumbs to mediocre office park architecture. I was excited about this
project when announced but the realization turned out to be eighties bland.
It will function extremely well as a library. No more cramped aisles! It will be a great place to study, read, and interact with the community.
I can't wait to use the underground parking garage and check out the interior!
There are many people who, unlike most of us using this blog, don't have access to computers at home or at work, can't afford to buy books, need a quiet and safe place to read or study. Hi-Tech doesn't reach all of us. There are thousands of people living and working near the new building. Anyone who has been by the current library can see how much it is used.
Kind of reminds me of the Soldier Field renovation in Chicago where they crammed a stupid looking modern structure inside the classic old shell.
At first I wasn't impressed with the design, but as outlined above, it looks great when compared to what it is supposed to accomplish!
I'm looking forward to visiting it when it opens.
alien spaceship about to take off.
For more support in favor of focusing our attention to more modern methods of making information available to the masses, look at the informatics library in Edinburgh, Scotland. The thing burnt to the ground in a club fire, but because of efforts in transferring printed material to computer, the incident wasn't nearly as tragic as it could have been.
Does anyone have any statistics about people using the central library?
So is seems that has been and will be well-utilized.
Look at the website and you will see that libraries are far more than book repositories in the communities they serve.
Those who wonder why this building is historic have obviously not been inside the building or stood on the front steps.
The city planner who originally designed Indianapolis had a beautiful vision. The symmetry of the city is/was amazing. If you have a chance, stand on the steps of the Central Library and look to the south towards the circle and you get a glimpse of the beauty of the original plan - and see how the library was originally incorporated into the community.
I hope the same people who complain about the library also complain about the stadium. At least the library is open to all people, at no cost, to promote reading and the love of learning. Nothing of the sort can be said of the stadium.
The Cret is gorgeous indeed, and I think in massing and plan the addition does a fine job of remaining respectfully distant from it. I do like the Calatrava-esque arches in the connector/atrium piece. Not crazy about the polished steel panels on the outside, as they tend to too often blindingly reflect the sunlight when I'm driving past.
As to the need for a library like this: as said above, not everyone has access at home or work to computers. As a democratic society we need to assure that access to the major means of communication are available to all (this includes IMO putting sidewalks on every single road, but that's another topic.)
And the important part: buildings are containers of our shared culture and memory. Buildings, especially public buildings, stand for far more than their function. If we put a Butler building with a great air conditioning system on this site to warehouse the books, we would have saved some money, but what about cultural engagement?
It’s the glass halve empty club....
In addition, the transitioning area connecting the two spaces acts as a perfect bridge between past and present. The light, graceful columns that reach skyward are reminiscent of vaulted ceilings found in old world cathedrals. Unlike those dark and heavy structures of old, these columns do not abruptly end in a wood or plaster ceiling, but a breathtaking view of the heavans directly overhead. All thanks to the glass panels that will allow the space to be dramatically bathed in natural sunlight by day and cloaked by the star-filled sky at night!
And remember, this stunning design must accommodate all of the state-of-the-art technology required to service a demanding and expanding urban community.
I have changed my view of the new Central Library, indeed, and am confident that it will become one of downtown Indianapolis' gleaming landmarks, and an inspirational gathering place for citizens, schools and businesses alike!
We Carmelites know a thing or two about Government Gone Wild. While each project may be able to stand on its own merits individually (although never with unanimous public support), one needs to step back and ask whether the totality of all the public spending is just too much. In other words, the library expansion itself may be a great thing, but in the context of all the other taxpayer-funded construction was it really the right time to build this?