Type: Renovation of Sears & Roebuck Store
Size: 142,000 Square Feet
Completed: 1988 and Spring 2002
Starting in the late 1960’s, the Anderson Public Library
began considering ways to either expand their Carnegie building
or build new facilities. In the early 1980’s, the Library
acquired the downtown Sears & Roebuck Store. The facility was
a 3 level, poured concrete frame building with masonry
exterior walls. The structure was designed to accommodate
an additional floor.
In the development of the program for the library, it was determined
that the main stacks, adult reading, and reference would all be
on the main floor. This design would reduce staff needed by allowing
visibility of all these areas at the same time. This need for a
larger main floor and the desire for a strong entry contributed
to the design of a building expansion. The resulting project is
a facility with an all new exterior and a major expansion to house
the main stacks, reading areas, and lobby. Automated circulation
was planned as part of the new facility.
The interior of the facility is organized to allow patrons entering
the building to navigate easliy. All departments, including those on
upper levels, are visible from the entry atrium. In addition to
the finished areas on the 1st and 2nd floors, there are unfinished
spaces available in the basement and the attic for future library
expansion or community facilities. A separate building on adjacent
property was renovated to house Extension Services including Bookmobile
and Outreach Services.
After 13 years, KRM once again provided architectural and interior design services for the Anderson Public Library. The renovation plans included new Young Adult Area, Children’s Area with their own computer section and meeting room, and increasing the size of the Computer Technology Center and the Audio Visual Department. Additions of a Coffee Shop, three meeting rooms, Friends book sale area, and restrooms on the 3rd floor were also included.
Starting in the late 1960’s, the Anderson Public Library
began considering ways to either expand their Carnegie building
or build new facilities. In the early 1980’s, the Library
acquired the downtown Sears & Roebuck Store. The facility was
a 3 level, poured concrete frame building with masonry
exterior walls. The structure was designed to accommodate
an additional floor.
