Kenosha Public Library Kids @Uptown Lofts
When the Kenosha Public Library (KPL) decided to make the bold move of creating a branch library focused entirely on youth services, they sought the services of Engberg Anderson for this transformative project. The grey box build-out was part of a larger multifamily mixed-use project in an area that had been scarred by riots in 2020. Using 7,750 SF of retail space to create the new “kids only” library, the project helps to revitalize the area by creating a space focused on youth enrichment, educational support, family gathering and strengthening the larger community. The Library worked extensively with the community who provided a large portion of the funds for the project and a great deal of input on what types of spaces and services they believed would best support them.
Though small, the space has unique and noteworthy features. Biophilic design elements that look like natural features such as trees and clouds make the space feel like a welcoming park in an urban area, by using. This is not only for form, but also function as their acoustic properties make the space more comfortable. Other key features include a hands-on learning space for STEAM programming, a low sensory room with dimmable LED lights and a texture wall, and a large variety of mobile teaching tools that can be interchanged or stored away when not in use to make the best use of the space. All these elements prove that no library is too small for all the features they want to include.
- WI ASID - Gold Award
