LAWRENCE— The Indianapolis Public Library is preparing to break ground on a new Fort Benjamin Harrison Branch and welcomes everyone in the community to give input about services, amenities, and priorities.
Community members can offer input by completing surveys in English or Spanish or by attending an online public input meeting held via Zoom on December 17 at 6:30 p.m. Links to the surveys, the Zoom meeting registration, and more information are available at indypl.org/fortben.
At its November board meeting, the Library Board of Trustees approved the purchase of 2.5 acres for $1 from the Fort Harrison Reuse Authority, a unit of government created to revitalize the economy following the closure of the Fort Benjamin Harrison Army Base in 1995. The location, along 56th St. between Melner and Lee roads, fills in a service area gap on the far eastside, part of IndyPL’s 2015 strategic plan goal to maximize accessibility to The Library and its services.
The 25,000-square-foot branch will be located at the Lawrence Village at the Fort. Amenities currently being considered for the branch include an extensive collection of books and media, a large community room, group study rooms, a computer lab, dedicated space for children’s story times and activities, space for teens, and more. The building will also be designed to meet LEED Silver Certification requirements for energy and resource conservation
Ratio Architects, which is conducting the survey and input meeting in partnership with The Library, plans to begin construction in August 2021, with anticipated opening in early 2023.