Apr 3, 2023 _ news

Calling Minds of All Kinds! Cincinnati Public Library opens new Madisonville Branch

Construction is complete and the ribbon has been cut on the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library’s (CHPL), brand new, fully accessible, Madisonville Branch Library. The new library supports CHPL’s mission to serve “minds of all kinds” by providing digital inclusivity and space to learn, collaborate, connect, and create.

Re-located from an existing, inaccessible building one block away, the new library features four MakerSpace bays with equipment for activities like vinyl printing and fiber art. “We referred to this as ‘the spine,’” says GBBN Associate, Sean Cottengim, part of the project design team. “The idea being you could browse technology offerings like you’d browse book titles.” There is also a recording studio for things like vlogs and podcasts. Two meeting rooms (with a separate entrance so they can be reserved and used by the community after library hours) can also be combined to accommodate larger groups.

The library is housed in a mixed-use residential development. We worked with the library leadership and staff to maximize use of the space while working around existing mechanical and plumbing elements in the space serving the residential tenants above. “Careful attention was paid to make the spine and other architectural elements feel permanent while still allowing the library to retain those elements if they were to move to a different space in the future,” says Sean.

Libraries are community assets and anchors. As a welcoming “third” place (neither home, work, or school) where people can gather, this library is poised to serve the needs of learners, makers, neighbors, and entrepreneurs.

Read about this project in the Cincinnati Business Courier or WLWT.com

Read about the work we did on CHPL’s Deer Park Branch Library here or here.

Learn more about our library work here.