Kearns Library • Salt Lake City, Utah

Owner/Client: Salt Lake County

AOR: Architectural Nexus • Kenner Kingston, PIC

Size: 35,000 SF

Estimated Value: $13 million

Services: Architecture, Sustainable Design

Completion Year: 2020

Certifications: LEED Gold v4

The new Kearns Library includes many community, discovery, sustainability, social, site, and parking upgrades identified during the robust stakeholder outreach process that kicked off the project planning. The new library replaces a small 1950s era original 12,000 SF library that had served the community well for over 60 years.  

The new expanded branch facility is complete with enhanced features including a large maker space, breakout rooms, and a community room with a stage and access to an adjacent community kitchen. That space acts as a classroom for cooking classes, can be used as a warming kitchen for facility events, and also stores food for the afterschool Kids Café and community food programs that are offered at this branch. The branch is widely known for its beautiful murals depicting life in the Kearns area completed by a local artist.