Denver’s Central Library fully reopened to the public for the first time since it closed for renovations in March 2020, with a public grand reopening celebration. The day kicked off with a celebratory program and ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Mayor Mike Johnston, Senator John Hickenlooper, and members of library leadership in the new Park View event space.
The $60 million renovation of the Central Library is putting Denver’s votes to work. In November 2017, Denver voters overwhelmingly approved measure 2E, which provides $69.3 million to renovate the Denver Central Library and 10 branch libraries as part of the Elevate Denver Bond program.
Improvements include:
- A welcoming and revamped first floor, including Schlessman Hall featuring a new grand staircase, The Commons – designed to be “downtown’s living room”
- A new Red Chair Bookshop
- The new Park View event space.
- The reimagined and relocated Children’s Library is also featured on the first floor and has been open since April 2022.
- On the second floor, 15 new community study and meeting rooms and the brand new Teen Library were added.
The total cost of the Central Library renovation is $59.4 million; $43 million of the renovation is funded by the 2017 Elevate Denver Bond and $5.75 million is funded via Strong Library, Strong Denver, supported by the DPL Fund. The new Teen Library is partially funded through a $750,000 Community Project Funding Grant through HUD, which is secured through the Congressionally Directed Spending process. The remainder of the budget was funded via fundraising through the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation.
Author: Mile High Mamas
