Redefining the Library as a Community Hub: Metropolis Features Mid-Continent Public Library Project
Metropolis Magazine has featured Mid-Continent Public Library (MCPL) in their recent article, “Redefining the Library as Community Hub — On a Massive Scale.” The story highlights how MCPL’s 33-branch transformation—led by Helix Architecture + Design, Sapp Design Architects, and JE Dunn—has redefined what modern library design can be for communities across the Kansas City region.
A Vision Built With Community
The MCPL system serves more than 840,000 residents across suburban and rural communities surrounding Kansas City, illustrated in the map. When voters approved a $113 million investment through a public ballot measure, MCPL launched an ambitious modernization effort: eight new branches and 25 renovations, each uniquely tailored to its neighborhood.
As Sam Lubell with Metropolis notes, the results redefine what a 21st-century library can be.
“It was about asking: What do our communities need from a library now — and how can we design for that?” said Helix President Erika Moody, FIIDA.
Through dozens of listening sessions, community surveys, and national benchmarking tours, Helix + Sapp worked with MCPL to define a shared vision for flexible spaces, expanded programming, and a library experience that feels open, welcoming, and connected.
A Systemwide “DNA” with Local Character
One of the key strategies highlighted in Metropolis is the balance between consistency and personalization. Across all branches, a shared palette of durable materials, furnishings, and lighting standards creates a cohesive identity for the system.
Yet each library also has its own personality. As our interior designer Megan Penland shared in the feature, “There’s a common DNA—but we didn’t want them to feel cloned. Every branch needed to reflect the community it served.”
That approach allowed every library to feel familiar, while also expressing the unique stories and priorities of the neighborhood it supports.
Destination Branches that Reflect Their Communities
The article highlights the idea of “destination libraries,” branches that offer experiences unique within the system. These niche concepts were developed in direct response to needs and priorities that MCPL observed in their communities.
Culinary Center (Green Hills)
Green Hills is home to MCPL’s culinary literacy program, supported by commercial kitchens, a food business incubator, and a cafe and flexible meeting spaces.
Xander Ross, director of the Green Hills culinary kitchens, says the space fills a crucial gap in the community: “Most of the folks who come to us don’t have culinary or business experience, but they’ve got an idea—a family recipe, a passion for baking, a dream. We wanted to provide them with both the knowledge and the physical space to turn that dream into a real food business.”
Coworking Destination Branch (Colbern Road)
Colbern Road’s design is anchored by a faceted metal screen that wraps the upper volume of the building, filtering sunlight and establishing the library as a civic landmark. Inside, the design incorporates best practices of workplace design. Patrons of all ages are invited to create their own coworking space within the branch, working from a variety of postures and seating options throughout the building.
In a moment when many public institutions are struggling to maintain relevance, MCPL’s branches are becoming essential destinations. “It’s about building trust, curiosity, opportunity,” says Moody. “Spaces that reflect who we are and who we want to be.”
Community Response + Lasting Impact
Since reopening, many branches have seen dramatic increases in use—some doubling their foot traffic. MCPL leadership shared that residents were coming not only to check out materials, but to experience the new buildings, take classes, and connect with the rest of their community.
In the article, Lubell continues: “In a moment when many public institutions are struggling to maintain relevance, MCPL’s branches are becoming essential destinations. “It’s about building trust, curiosity, opportunity,” says Moody. “Spaces that reflect who we are and who we want to be.”
We’re grateful to MCPL, Sapp Design Architects, JE Dunn, and the many stakeholders and community members who made this transformation possible. And we’re honored that Metropolis has recognized this work as a model for how libraries can evolve to meet the changing needs of their communities.
