When popular contemporary authors visit Denver, they don’t usually promote at the Central Library despite the Library’s eight stories and 540,000 square footage (SF). Before the Library’s 2020 renovation, the Central Library’s event space lived in the building's basement level, making the space not very welcoming or accommodating to the downtown Denver community. Enter 2017’s Elevate Denver Bond approved by Denver voters. The bond, along with 2022’s Strong Library, Strong Denver supported by the DPL Fund, a Community Project Funding Grant through HUD secured through the Congressionally Directed Spending process, and fundraising support by the Denver Public Library Friends Foundations allowed the Denver Public Library to push forth Central Library improvements laid out by its Facilities Master Plan, including the creation of a brand-new event space.
What does a library event space look like? The Denver Public Library enlisted the help of studiotrope Design Collective and GH Phipps Construction to realize an event space fit for the vibrant Denver community. Taking the space of the former Children’s Library, the event space, now named Park View, can accommodate hundreds. Redesigns to the space permit the event space, a catering kitchen, and large new inclusive restrooms to be partitioned from the rest of the building. A new entrance built in the old Children’s Pavilion opens Park View to after-hour events and programming. The space was also envisioned to be an affordable large gathering space available for rent by the community. The Library wanted to accommodate as many possible event types.”…that is hard to design for,” joked studiotrope architect Anne Pharamond. She pointed out it may even be used “...to provide a backdrop for the Mayor’s press conferences.”
Large programming held in the space during open hours will also be minimally distracting. “We wanted excellent acoustics and ensure the more boisterous events don’t bother patrons outside the Parkview,” Anne said while discussing the design of the event space. GH Phipps Construction commissioned over 1,200 wood panels that wrap around the walls and ceiling. Each panel is patterned with varying-sized dots, an eye-catching sight that serves both function and design. “The perforations were important for acoustics,” Anne said. Each of the 66,524 dots uses a sound reduction material to insulate sound within the space.
Risk brings great reward: Building Denver Public Library’s dream event space meant overcoming many hurdles. Opening up and making the former Children’s Library into a two-story event space was one of those challenges. Throughout the Central Library, many cosmetic pillars decorate the building and could be removed with no structural impact on the building. However, to open up the space, a 4,000 SF portion of the second floor would need to be removed, along with six structural columns. Removing the columns meant nothing would hold the third and fourth floors, and creative solutions would need to be made. “The fun part is using our brains to make the mission happen,” said Jonah Lutz, project engineer for GH Phipps.
Operating the task had to be tactful. One wrong move and the building would topple over. “[The removal process] was surgical, it had to be very specific…it was insane!” Anne recalled. A portion of the building had to be lifted, and steel beams measuring 60 feet and weighing 42,000 lbs. had to be lifted by crane and pulled through a small 20 x 10 ft opening to build new reinforcements. “I don’t want to overstate it, but it could have gone horribly wrong,” Anne said, “the likelihood was small, but the consequences would have been huge.” Library staff were barred from working in the building during the operation.
The risk was worth it in the end. With the removal of the columns and the raising of the ceiling, Park View feels inviting. New reinforcements fortify the building’s integrity, and lofty windows bring more natural light. A scenic view of Civic Center Park gives the Park View space its name.
The Central Library renovation builds connection: Thanks to the success of studiotrope and GH Phipps, Park View is accessible to the public today, where it temporarily houses library services such as the Community Technology Center and Special Collections and Archives and Reference service desks. Once Central fully reopens, the space will utilize its full potential as a gathering space that builds connections with the community.
Park View is just one aspect of fostering connections through the Central Library renovation. The library now features 18 brand-new study and community rooms of varying sizes that can accommodate more library users.
Another repurposed space includes the former Movies and Music area. The space has a circumference of 245’, making it great for communal use, and will now be called The Commons. Three walls and two cosmetic pillars were removed to connect The Commons to Schlessman Hall and brighten the area. Edward Ruscha’s mural moves from Schlessman Hall and now encircles The Commons. New carpet and added furnishing will transform the space into one library visitors will use to read a book, do some work, or simply slow down and relax.
Stay tuned for more renovation revelations as we build toward the full reopening of the Central Library later in November. Adventure over to the Explore Central page for more exciting updates on the Central Library!