LaPorte County Public Library Improvements

In 2022, JPR designed a remodel for both the exterior windows and monumental stairs at the LaPorte County Public Library (LPCPL) main facility. We also designed a Reading Wi-Fi Garden and a new storage and maintenance building.

Monumental Staircase:  At over 100-years-old, the existing stairs were deteriorating and quickly becoming a safety concern. This was due in part to salt use during winter months. The new design replicated the same look and feel as the original staircase but incorporated modern railings and electrical heat to melt ice and snow.

Reading Wi-Fi Garden: The Reading Garden was designed to provide an outdoor passive park for the library and its patrons. It contains a looped walking path, lighting, seating nodes with benches, irrigated landscape, and Wi-Fi connectivity for all users – as well as a flat lawn space allowing for the setup of tents and chairs during future library events.

All stormwater was designed to be collected on-site using two drywells and a gravel trench drain system, and two sculpture nodes were incorporated into the space. Additionally, a sculpture installation at the corner of Indiana Avenue and Harrison Street was designed using granite stair treads removed from the historic entrance during the remodel. This is just one way we incorporated a bit of history into the project, continuing to tell the story of the public library and the community it serves.  

Storage and Maintenance Building:  This new building was designed to have two offices and a four-bay garage / workshop for library maintenance staff - not just for the main branch but for all LPCPL branches. It also has a covered porch and front yard for hosting programs and activities, and new sidewalks and trees were installed to liven up the site.