Gilbane and Lorain Public Library System Celebrate the Grand Reopening of the Avon Branch Library
Avon, Ohio – February 22, 2023 – After nearly two years of construction, community members recently gathered to celebrate the grand reopening of Lorain Public Library System’s newest branch in Avon, Ohio. The event included live cooking demonstrations in The Norton Family Foundation Demonstration Kitchen, tours of the many unique spaces, and additional activities for children and adults.
“We are extremely excited about reopening the Avon Branch,” said Kyle Merrill, Gilbane Building Company Vice President in Cleveland. “This branch has many unique features that will provide Avon and the surrounding community access to tools and information vital to community growth.”
Approval for the expansion and renovation came in 2020 after a $2 million levy was passed by more than 70% of Avon voters. This project doubled the size of the original library, which opened in 1994, and expanded the library’s footprint from 10,000 to 27,000 SF.
“We started this project by asking the community what they wanted as part of a new Avon Branch,” says Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz, Lorain Public Library System Director. “We told them to dream big. We are so grateful to GPD Group and Gilbane Building Company for helping to make those dreams a reality.” The library developed several new spaces for children and families, teens, and adults from this input.
The children’s area is home to the Kathy Petersen Story Time Room, a space for children’s programming named in memory of the long-time Friends of the Library president. Additionally, there is a dedicated early childhood area called the round room. This area is painted with brightly-colored foliage and houses most of the library’s picture books and play features. Visitors can access an outside reading garden through a door surrounded by stained glass that tells the story of Thumbelina, which was preserved from the library’s original building.
The teen and adult side of the library features several small and large meeting spaces, including a soundproof room, an e-Sports lounge equipped with zSpace augmented reality programs, the Create Space, and The Norton Family Foundation Demonstration Kitchen. The Create Space includes new types of machinery, such as a 3D printer, a laser engraver, and a vinyl printing and cutting system. The demo kitchen features a full kitchen and an attached meeting room that can seat 150, allowing demonstrations to teach practical cooking skills. The new location also boasts a drive-thru window, drive-up return boxes, and a family nursing room.
About Gilbane Building Company
Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services – from preconstruction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build, and facility management services – for clients across various markets. Founded in 1870 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 45 office locations worldwide. Gilbane is one of the most established and leading construction managers in the Northeast Ohio market and averages more than $500 million in revenue in the state annually. Gilbane Building Company is ranked the #1 builder of public libraries in the U.S. by Building Design + Construction (2022). For more information, visit www.gilbaneco.com.
About the Lorain Public Library System
The Lorain Public Library System, or LPLS, is the largest, most comprehensive library system in Lorain County, Ohio, with much of its service area comprising the northeast part of the county. The estimated population in the library system’s service district is over 154,000. It serves both large and small communities, boasting a diverse patronage consisting of various economic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds, with the Main Library sitting in the heart of downtown Lorain, the International City. Library services are provided from six branches in Lorain, Avon, Columbia Station, North Ridgeville, and Sheffield Lake. Additionally, LPLS has a Little Library on the Lake at Lakeview Park in Lorain. Lorain Public Library System provides everyone with free, educational, informational, and entertainment resources through responsive quality service to support lifelong learning. For more information, visit www.lorainpubliclibrary.org.