After many months of planning, Johnson County Library is poised to begin construction on its newest branch, the Merriam Plaza Library, co-located on a campus with the Merriam Community Center in the 6000 block of Slater Street.
On Tuesday, Nov. 29, Library staff joined the Johnson County Library Board, members of the Board of County Commissioners, Merriam City Council members, staff and volunteers from both the City and County, and partners Dake Wells Architecture and Titan Built to officially kick off construction with a groundbreaking ceremony.
Two members of the Webb family were also in attendance; Merriam Plaza's meeting room will be named after Alfonso and Mary Webb, Merriam residents whose 1949 desegregation lawsuit paved the way for the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education decision.
The new building, expected to open in 2024, will be a few blocks from the current location. The 15,000-square-foot branch will replace the much-loved but outdated Antioch Library, which has served Johnson County since 1956 at the corner of Antioch Road and Shawnee Mission Parkway. It will have the same collection as Antioch and will be comparable to Oak Park Library’s size.
For Merriam Mayor Bob Pape, Antioch Library has been an important fixture since he was a boy growing up at 60th and Antioch Road. He is delighted the city will retain this new branch, ideally situated to share space with the community center that opened in 2020.
The Library and community center entrances will face each other across a courtyard. Visitors to both facilities will use a 200-space, two-level parking garage already completed on the site.
“It’s a hub of the community. It’s a destination place,” Pape said, recalling that Merriam leaders pitched the many benefits of the shared campus to Library officials in 2017.
County Librarian Tricia Suellentrop agreed it’s been a great partnership, similar to the agreement that led to Lenexa City Center Library opening in 2019 adjacent to Lenexa City Hall. “We worked really closely with the city of Merriam on the siting of the building, the design, every step of the way. It’s been wonderful working with Merriam,” she said.
Suellentrop is thrilled with the building’s stunning and modern amenities that she believes will provide a “jewel for the community” for decades to come. This will be a Library built with many patron suggestions in mind, like a convenient drive-thru, a comfortable modern early literacy and Kids area, a large meeting room with updated technology to host storytime and other events, plus two well-equipped study rooms and a variety of seating options across the branch.
Another community request was to maintain some of the area’s green space, which the architects honored in a creative way with an attractive green roof that preserves the roof’s lifespan while providing a place for pollinators and native vegetation. Spacious windows will allow in lots of natural light, and a covered front porch will provide a welcoming outdoor gathering spot. Public art has also been commissioned for both indoors and outdoors.
The anticipated total project cost is $13.68 million, funded through the Comprehensive Library Master Plan and dedicated Library tax. Merriam residents will not see a city tax increase to pay for this project. The contractor, Titan Built, also completed the latest renovation at Central Resource Library.
Library officials anticipate Antioch Library will close just prior to the new branch opening, to allow for transferring the collection and staff to the new location. The Library Board of Directors owns the Antioch branch and plans to sell the property. “We see it as a potential win for the community, and for us as far as whatever goes in there,” Pape said.
Stay tuned to @jocolibrary on social media and the Library's website for updates throughout the construction process. More information about the project is available in the Construction FAQ.