Appleton Public Library Building Project Update For October 2021

Press release from the Appleton Public Library:

October 19, 2021

In March the Appleton Public Library Board of Trustees and City of Appleton Common Council selected Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) for design and engineering services for the Appleton Public Library at its current location.

City staff continue to work with SOM on the library project. The following progress has been made in the past month:

1. Concept Design, Community Input and Communication

2. Site Assessment Updates

Analysis continues on subsurface environmental investigations as well as additional inspections of the existing facility for lead and asbestos. Analysis determined no lead paint was present. Subsurface testing has identified some soft soils at certain depths. This is valuable information to ensure the footings and foundation are built appropriately.

3. Parking

The City of Appleton engaged Walker Consultants to assist with parking planning services for the library. They will develop a parking plan for the library that will incorporate nearby available resources, identify future parking needs, and provide in an implementable solution that supports public access to the library.

4. Interim library needs

Director Gazza has begun working with city departments and library staff to identify possible locations for the library to function during the period of construction. Staff have begun planning how to transition to a smaller, temporary space. The 2022 library operations budget includes temporary reductions primarily in areas of supplies and services as these will function in a reduced manner during construction.

5. College Avenue North Neighborhood Planning

The College Avenue North Neighborhood Plan began work in August. Community and Economic Development Director Karen Harkness and Cory Scott from RDG, the planning firm on this process, presented to the library board and the Appleton Redevelopment Authority in September. RDG also held two focus groups for library staff. They are in the process of scheduling another focus group for library stakeholders.

Stay up to date on the library project or sign up for email updates by visiting our building project webpage.

This press release was produced by the Appleton Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.