Avon Branch Updates

The new southern portion of the building is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.  Take a tour here. We'll see you soon.

Pavers sold from June through December of 2022 will be placed in the spring of 2023. 

Sponsorship Opportunities Available (click here)
Reading Garden Opportunities (click here)

Sidewalk Superintendent November 2022

Sidewalk Superintendent October 2022

Sidewalk Superintendent August 2022

Sidewalk Superintendent July 2022

Sidewalk Superintendent June 2022

Sidewalk Superintendent May 2022

Avon Staff Takes a Tour
Sidewalk Superintendent April 2022

Sidewalk Superintendent March 2022

Sidewalk Superintendent February 2022

Sidewalk Superintendent January 2022




Sidewalk Superintendent December 2021
Sidewalk Superintendent November 2021

Sidewalk Superintendent October 2021

Sidewalk Superintendent September 2021

August, 2021

Lorain Public Library System Board of Trustees, LPLS Director, Avon Mayor Jensen and members of City Council, and representatives from architectural firm GPD Group and Gilbane Building Co. break ground on the new Avon Branch renovation and expansion on August 10.
Members of the Lorain Public Library System Board of Trustees, LPLS Director, Avon Mayor Jensen and members of City Council, and representatives from architectural firm GPD Group and Gilbane Building Co. break ground on the new Avon Branch renovation and expansion on August 10.

June, 2021

We are happy to introduce the "Sidewalk Superintendent," a newsletter provided by the Gilbane Building Company that includes a list of current construction activities and photos. We hope you will continue to check in to follow along on this exciting journey.

Sidewalk Superintendent June 2021

May 14, 2021
April 29, 2021

Updated floor plan

February 17, 2021

GPD presented an update to the Avon Planning Commission. 02.17.21 Presentation

January 21, 2021:

GPD presented an update to the Lorain Public Library System Board of Trustees which included results from the public polling done at the end of 2020, the proposed layout of the library renovation/expansion, and an updated timeline. To see the presentation, click here: 01.21.21 Presentation

Click to watch the Town Hall Meeting

November 19, 2020

A Town Hall was held at 7 p.m. via Zoom for community input.

Statement from Gilbane Building Company:
October 13, 2020

"The Lorain Public Library System is a vital component of the very fabric of Lorain County, and Gilbane is proud to expand its reach and services with the new Avon Branch," said Kyle Merrill, vice president, Gilbane Building Company. "Gilbane Building Company is honored to have been selected for this important community project and we look forward to working with the project partners to realize the plans for the library."

About Gilbane: Gilbane Building Company provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services - from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build and facility management services - for clients across various markets. Gilbane's presence in Ohio dates back more than 60 years and in that time we have cultivated a team focused on quality construction, client collaboration, community engagement, safety and innovation. The 65+ people who work out of our Cleveland office are not just employees, they are members of the same Northeast Ohio communities we are building in. This means every employee has a personal stake in our projects and have built some of Cleveland's finest educational buildings, sports facilities, hospital, office, data center and government buildings.

October 12, 2020

"On behalf of the Lorain Public Library Board of Trustees, I am pleased to announce the selection of the Gilbane Building Company as the Construction Management at Risk (CMR) firm for the Avon Branch expansion and renovation project. Gilbane Building Company brings a wealth of experience in library design with a culture of safety and past proven performance. The Lorain Public Library Board of Trustees determined that Gilbane Building Company provides the best value for the expansion and renovation of the Avon Branch."

Dr. Garalynn V. Tomas, DNAP, CRNA
President, LPLS Board of Trustees

Gilbane Building Company

Statement from GPD:
August 24, 2020

“GPD Group is honored to have been selected for the Avon Branch. We would like to thank both the selection committee and the LPS Board of Trustees for bestowing their trust in our team on this landmark for Avon and the surrounding neighborhoods. We are eager to get started on collaborating with both the LPLS administration and patrons to materialize their vision for this community resource.”

About GPD: GPD is a full-service architecture and engineering design firm with a nearly 60-year history of designing quality public facilities in the State of Ohio. We are an employee-owned firm with over 685 professionals, 450+ of which are located in Northeast Ohio. We are an interdisciplinary firm dedicated to providing only the best architectural, engineering and planning services to a diverse client base. In blending these services, our team has developed a flourishing unity of creativity, collaboration, and innovation.

Design on the new Avon Branch addition and renovation is anticipated to take approximately nine-months with a groundbreaking event possibly occurring at the start of June, 2021. Thereafter, GPD will work closely with the Construction Manager on a construction timeline. It is anticipated the building will remain open for service during construction which will have a duration of approximately eleven- months. This timeline would provide a grand opening of the new branch around May 2022. The design will commence with meetings with LPLS staff and community engagement sessions to verify not only the building programming, but also the design inspiration for this revitalized neighborhood resource.

August 20, 2020

“On behalf of the Lorain Public Library Board of Trustees, I am excited to announce the selection of the architectural firm of GPD Group to provide design professional services for the Lorain Public Library Avon Branch expansion and renovation project. GPD Group brings a dynamic intra-disciplinary design team leading this project and has a wealth of experience in library design. It is the goal of the Lorain Public Library System to continue providing excellence in library services for the City of Avon and its citizens. We look forward to the expansion and renovation of the Avon Branch, which will inspire and enhance the experience of our patrons.”

Dr. Garalynn V. Tomas, DNAP, CRNA
President, Board of Trustees

GPD Group

July 2020

RFQs for the architect and the construction manager went out to the public. We are anticipating the Library Board of Trustees selecting and hiring an architect at their August 20 board meeting. We anticipate they will select and hire the construction manager at the September board meeting. Once we have those two firms hired, design should start in September. Our goal is to break ground by June of 2021.

June 2020

The Library Board of Trustees hired RFC Contracting, Inc. as an owner’s representative for the building project. RFC has worked with many libraries in the area on their construction projects, including Elyria Public Library, Cuyahoga County Public Library, and Shaker Heights Library.

2018 and 2019

We completed outreach within the community of Avon, as users are the experts of their own environment, through focus groups, surveys and open houses.


Click for a larger view
Avon Branch Survey Results

The survey demonstrated users of the Avon Branch value the physical collection, with 65% of respondents saying they enjoy browsing it. The proposed expansion would double the collection and create a space for teens and young adults.

Nearly one third of respondents come for children’s programming and 21% of people who took the survey said they would most like to see an improved and expanded children’s area. In the proposed changes to the Avon Branch, this area would be doubled with a larger interactive area and dedicated programming and story time room.

While cooking classes were the most popular choice among respondents for additional programming, 19% were also interested in adding digital fabrication tools, such as 3D printers. These wish-list items would become possible as part of a Create Space, providing access to technology and tools as well as programming.

With the passage of the levy on April 28, we can now begin the process of vetting and hiring an architect and gather community input on the renovation and expansion design. Please continue to check back for updates and photos as we embark on this next chapter together.