Updated designs were presented to Cedar Park City Council in November from Lake Flato, the hired architecture firm for the project. The project will be funded through 2015 voter-approved bonds.
The library will be surrounded by a courtyard, Cluck Creek, The Backyard social hub, residential buildings and retail space. City Council voted to increase the scope of the library design in August to allow for more space based on public engagement and a space programming exercise.
The exterior of the two-story building will include a second-floor reading porch above the entry, a courtyard with seating, a children’s play area and other gathering areas. The design will work to preserve as many existing trees as possible, said Abheek Sarkar, an associate of Lake Flato, Nov. 18.
The interior will have multipurpose rooms, a youth area that connects to a fenced yard, maker space labs and a space where visitors can watch book sorting. The youth area will work beyond storing books and include a dedicated storytime room. The second floor will hold the adult collections, a teen space, a group study area, technology spaces and a reading room.
The goal of the porches and special areas is to create a more distinct experience of a library, Sarkar said.
“It’s more than just a place to get books,” Sarkar said. “It’s a place to hang out. It’s a place to meet people.”
The Bell District is a $350 million public-private project to redevelop a Cedar Park area along Bell Boulevard between Park Street and Buttercup Creek Boulevard.
Phase 1 construction will start in spring 2022 with infrastructures such as roads and utilities. First openings are scheduled for 2024, including the new library.
Vertical construction will start at the end of 2022 with the city library, restaurants, shops, two high-density residential projects, parking garages and green space. The Backyard, the area’s social hub, will include the area with restaurants, patios, the new city library, a great lawn and trails.
This article is part of the 2022 Annual Community Guide for the Community Impact Newspaper Cedar Park-Leander edition.
