Walker Library

[John]

Even though it's quite simple and straightforward in design, there something a little offbeat about it in a nice, quiet way. I think it it has to do with the metal panel walls combined with the angled eaves that play off the Uptown theater. Then those yellow skylight boxes look almost whimsical in placement. It doesn't look like any building I've seen before, yet it fits perfectly for the site and Uptown. Very cool. Anybody know the opening date?

[gray_marc]

it's simple and sleek and addresses the street well. a lot of the aesthetic of the metal panels is lost in photographs.

Agreed. I appreciate the library in the flesh rather than pictures.. At night time it looks even better!

[Nathan]

From the Mall: (Yikes Mosaic...)


Untitled by fotoapparatic, on Flickr


Untitled by fotoapparatic, on Flickr

Soffit Going on:

Untitled by fotoapparatic, on Flickr

Street Scape:

Untitled by fotoapparatic, on Flickr

From the Uptown:

Untitled by fotoapparatic, on Flickr

[twincitizen]

[Wedgeguy]

A majority of the book shelving is assembled in the library. They were working to assemble tables for the computers yesterday. I hope that this opens soon.

[Minnehahaha]

I look forward to experiencing the new Walker library. Now if we can just, for once in our lifetimes, find a lasting,long-term use for the old, old, Walker library. http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/n ... a-gym.html

[David Greene]

I look forward to experiencing the new Walker library. Now if we can just, for once in our lifetimes, find a lasting,long-term use for the old, old, Walker library. http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/n ... a-gym.html

Dammit! Why are these things always timed wrong.

We should build a tunnel between the two buildings and use the old library for stacks or something.

[lordmoke]

Grand opening April 26:
http://www.hclib.org/pub/info/buildingp ... PostID=169

[seanrichardryan]

Huh. It's full of books and looks complete. I suppose there is training involved.

[ECtransplant]

http://m.startribune.com/?id=257082031

[David Greene]

Went in last night with the kid. It's very airy and bright. It feels really small and the back-office part seems way too big for such a small collection of books. There are some really comfy chairs next to the big windows but I was mildly annoyed that there's no child furniture there. There are a lot of kids moving into the area. There's a small children's area but I wish it were larger.

The Strib article talks about it being a community gathering space, which it should be. But it was as quite as, er, a library. If silence is enforced, either by rule or by custom, I don't think there will be too many community events there which is a real shame since it is the only indoor public gathering space in the area.

Still, it's a vast improvement from what was there before and we'll be using it a whole lot.

[lordmoke]

In depth photoset from OurUptown:
http://www.ouruptown.com/2014/04/a-new- ... r-library/

I went on opening day and it was fairly packed. Vastly superior to the former space, and it feels very connected to the rest of Uptown.

[Wedgeguy]

Was in yesterday and was impressed with the building. So so on it's layout, but definitely a vast improvement from the bunker that was there. Can't wait to see what a sunny day looks like in there.

[twincitizen]

Strib's Streetscapes: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/296245901.html