A photograph of the Main Library was selected to appear on the cover of Library Journal’s annual architectural issue, published in December 2001.Īn iconic feature of the Main Library’s landscape is the 11-foot-tall bronze sculpture known as Transcendurance. The Main Library opened on February 23, 2001. The terrazzo floor bears the design of a branching tree, which leads toward different areas on the first floor. The arched entrance suggests an open book with fanned pages.

These traditional materials give the library a feeling of stability and endurance, while the curved shape and many windows add grace and light. Brick, stone, and copper are used as exterior materials, with the details echoing the craftsmanship of the late 19 th century. Blending the library of today with the library of tomorrow, the 67,000-square-foot building allows the library to showcase its traditional resources while providing access to digital resources. The building’s overall design was influenced by the dynamics of the building site: a wooded, park-like setting at the confluence of Rogers Avenue and Free Ferry Road. Scherer also designed the three neighborhood branch libraries.

Based in Minneapolis at Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd., Scherer has designed libraries across the United States.

The building was designed by architect Jeff Scherer, a Fort Smith native. The Main Library is a contemporary, light-filled, open building featuring the use of traditional materials such as brick, stone, and wood.

Chief architect andersen window library