Hennepin County has announced plans for a major $30 million remodel and upgrade of the Brookdale Library and Hennepin County Regional Center in Brooklyn Center.
The library, located at 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy, has not undergone any significant renovations in over 20 years. The proposed upgrades will dedicate $17 million to revamping the interior of the library.
Although design plans are still being finalized, Hennepin County Library Director Scott Duimstra told CCX News that the needs of library visitors have evolved significantly in recent years.
“We’re seeing how people are coming back to libraries post-pandemic, but also how their uses are changing versus pre-pandemic,” Duimstra explained. “Some of the new uses we see are requests for meeting rooms, rooms with A/V equipment, and for our collections to be organized differently.”
The remodel will likely include new carpets and furniture, a dedicated children’s area, and additional meeting rooms to accommodate the changing needs.
The upgrades will work in tandem with improvements to the larger Hennepin County Regional Center, including a new parking lot and roof repairs. Part of the $13 million allotted to the Regional Center will focus on boosting energy efficiency.