On Monday evening, March 3, the City Council viewed a Power Point presentation on the new, proposed Library/Cultural Arts project in downtown Columbus. The presentation accompanies this communication.
This project will be the biggest public, community use project in the city’s history and the steering committee that worked with our consulting architectural firm is pleased to present the same for your review and comment.
Some basic highlights of the proposal as currently developed include approximately 33,000 square feet of library space for patron use and approximately 5,600 square feet of space dedicated to the arts. There is also a proposed 300 seat auditorium for presentations, concerts, lectures and a multitude of other uses not presently available in our community.
As you scan through the presentation you will see space that has been dedicated for much needed meeting room space from small study rooms to several larger spaces for groups who cannot be easily accommodated elsewhere in the community. There is a kitchen that can service these meeting spaces as well as events scheduled in the auditorium.
The layout of the library and arts spaces has been considered from a user and service perspective that is not presently available at our current library which, we must all remember, was an office building and designed as such. The proposed layout provides for service points readily accessible for patron needs.
The City Council has given the steering committee approval to continue to develop the proposed facility toward the point where a campaign for public support and fund raising can be started. Your input is essential and the committee requests comments about the initial layout and the project in general. You can do so by submitting comments by email to askcity@columbusne.us
This website will be updated periodically so you can see our progress. On behalf of the steering committee, I hope you find this project as exciting as we have and provide input that can make the project even better for our community. I look forward to your comments.
Joseph A. Mangiamelli, City Administrator