The Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales Branch Library is officially open at West Colfax Avenue and Irving Street.
The two-story, 27,000-square-foot library is the last of three new libraries built with 2007 voter-approved Better Denver Bond funds. The new facility will serve west Denver neighborhoods that haven't had a library branch nearby.
"Our branch libraries reflect the individual spirit and diversity of their neighborhoods," says city librarian Shirley Amore. "The Gonzales Branch Library not only celebrates the diversity of west Denver, it is also a community space that will bring residents and visitors together in new and special ways."
The library is named for
Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales, a Denver native, poet, boxer and nationally recognized leader in the civil rights movement who advocated for the education, economic and political equality of the Latino community in Denver.
Studiotrope Design Collective designed the library to support the community's vision of the library as an incubator for growth.
"One of the primary goals of the project is to celebrate the diverse and culturally rich community of west Denver," says Joseph Montalbano, Studiotrope's principle architect for the project.
The building facade is highlighted by a series of brightly colored horizontal "threads," each symbolizing the unique members of the community. "In this way, the building exterior showcases the transformational power of the neighborhood," Montalbano says.
Contact Confluence Denver Development News Editor Margaret Jackson with tips and leads for future stories at margaret@confluence-denver.com.
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