Ground broke today on Wichita’s new Advanced Learning Library.
The 2-story, 105,200-square-foot building at 2nd Street and McLean Boulevard, just west of downtown and the Arkansas River, will feature conference rooms, a dedicated research pavilion, a digital pavilion and a learning center just for kids.
Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell told the crowd at Wednesday's event that the community is doing more than just breaking ground on a new library.
“We’re breaking ground on learning and technology opportunities which will not only keep our city on pace with what’s happening around the world, but it will create benchmarks for others to follow,” he said.
Construction has been well under way for weeks, but the ceremonial event marked the next phase for the project that has been in planning for a decade. The Wichita Library board of directors outlined plans for a new central location back in 2006. The Wichita City Council gave final approval on the $37 million project in February.
The Advanced Learning Library is expected to open in the spring of 2018. Plans for the current central library on Main Street will be decided later this year.
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