Omaha Public Library Downtown Branch

More than just a place to read, Downtown Omaha Library invites patrons to wander, explore carved-out nooks, and lose themselves in the joy of discovery. Beyond fostering literacy and social engagement, it breathes new life into downtown Omaha, revitalizing the spirit of a city rich in history and innovation. As a reimagination of a long-forgotten warehouse, now transformed into a vibrant hub for connection, exploration, and learning. Nestled in the heart of its historic neighborhood, this library honors Omaha’s past while embracing its future. Our design approach carefully balanced preservation and innovation, celebrating the original architectural character while introducing elements unique to the building. We drew inspiration from the surrounding area—painted brick advertisements, mosaic floor entries, and layered textures that tell the story of a bygone era. The original brick was carefully uncovered, the timber and tiled walls restored, and the expansive windows replaced to flood the space with natural light. What was once the 1912 Dale Cole Creamery now stands as a 21st-century cultural cornerstone. The community was at the center of every conversation when designing and planning for their new home. Omaha Public Library was in good hands with a team of local stakeholders just as dedicated to the success and future as they were. As the Omaha community and population grew over the last 10 years, the library reached out to industry subject matter experts to conduct studies for the future growth and how to best serve their neighborhoods. To best serve their community, the Main Library was planned to move to central towards Midtown Omaha, and then provide a more suitable scaled library for the downtown. The location for the downtown branch was selected based on several factors. The property was tucked back away from the business district, so parking and pedestrian access was equitable, on the corner of 14th and Jackson. To preserve historic relevance, the project engaged Historic Resources Group, Inc to assist with historic tax credit rehabilitation efforts. Many of these features were either cleaned, preserved, or needed to be replaced with similar means and method from the period of which it was originally construction in 1912. Restoring the core and shell of the 40,000 square foot property was vital for the surrounding neighborhood aesthetic, and for the book collections that would relocate there, requiring sound environmental HVAC and structural standards of today. While boasting clean, colorful, and modern amenities, the library still maintains the building’s integrity and character with the original exposed ceiling and brickwork nestled between bookcases, nooks, and windows throughout. Vision strategy sessions provided thoughtful community input on the needs and desires for the new home. The space includes lower shelving to maximize visibility sight lines across each floor for security and service to patrons, along with the new dedicated children’s zone catering to families with littles to adolescents, including activities from sensory and play exploration to quiet reading nooks and story time hours.