GH Phipps and the High Plains Library District recently celebrated the grand opening of the Library Innovation Center (LINC) in Greeley. The $23 million, 64,000-square-foot addition and renovation includes industrial space, wet/dry arts bays, an industrial room, a recording studio, and maker spaces that promote hands-on inquiry, problem-solving, and lifelong learning. The architect for the project was Barker Rinker Seacat.
LINC is located at 501 8th Avenue in Greeley, on the former site of the old Greeley Tribune. The project came in response to community needs and is a transformation of the site into a state-of-the-art educational facility serving the surrounding area. Planning efforts for the space spanned five years as library management visited libraries worldwide, gathering ideas and finding ways to best integrate them into the design. One of the prominent aspects of LINC’s design is with the river system in mind, blending purposeful, creative décor meant to educate patrons. For example, a “river of books” on artfully curvaceous shelving runs through the library, tying together the waterway theme and love for learning.
Some of the other design highlights include:
- A climbing maze to guide children from the lobby up to the second floor. Inside the installation are playful round windows overlooking the children’s library. Creatively lit tunnels provide an impactful view of the grand staircase and main hall below, expanding the space and providing a truly immersive experience.
- To mimic the Northern Colorado watershed, a metal façade was crafted to match the confluence of the South Platte, St. Vrain, and Cache La Poudre Rivers.
- Large windows and glass walls in the library frame an atrium honoring space preserved from the old Greeley Tribune.
- The children’s library is designed to fit the existing mail room with shelves of books twisting along the curves of the space.
In 2022, GHPhipps celebrated 70 years of work along the front range. We continue as one of the largest construction companies in the Colorado region. GH Phipps is known for our work in the healthcare, higher education, high tech, K-12, civic, and commercial arenas – with a reputation as a trusted partner time and again.
