COLUMBUS—Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) has broken ground on its new Marion-Franklin Branch (2800 Lockbourne Rd.). Click here to download B-roll from the event, available for media use.
Groundbreakers include:
Billy Askey, Principal, EVOKE Studio
Dave Brown, Project Executive, Turner Construction
The Honorable Hearcel Craig, State Senator, Ohio Senate
Katherine Cull, Neighborhood Liaison, City of Columbus
Sandy Doyle-Ahern*, President, EMH&T
Rev. Richard Dunbar, Wesley Church of Hope
Bishop Dane Clark, Senior Pastor, Bethel Temple Church
Keoni Fleming, Principal, Schooley Caldwell
Steven Haardt, Associate, EVOKE Studio
Lauren Hagan, Chief Financial Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Charlie Hansen, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
The Honorable Shannon Hardin, President, Columbus City Council
Edwin Harris, Principal, EVOKE Studio
The Honorable Latyna Humphrey, State Representative, Ohio House
Rebecca Johnson, Marion-Franklin Civic Association
Abby Kiracofe, Manager, Marion-Franklin Branch
Kye Mosley, Director, Starting Point Learning Center
Robert Patterson, Commissioner, Far South Area Commission
Lindsey Rasberry, Designer, Schooley Caldwell
Bernita Reese, Director, Columbus Recreation and Parks Department
Erin Reilly-Sanders, Project Architect, Schooley Caldwell
Deborah Smith, Community Member
Matt Smydo, Director, City of Columbus Office of Education
Catherine Strauss*, Managing Partner, Ice Miller
Marshall Troxell, Assistant Director of Community Affairs, City of Columbus
Carla Williams-Scott*, Director, Department of Neighborhoods, City of Columbus
Dr. Anthony Wilson, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
The Honorable Chris Wyche, Councilmember, Columbus City Council
Donna Zuiderweg, Chief Community Engagement Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
* Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of Trustees member
The current Marion-Franklin Branch, located within the former Beery Middle School at 2740 Lockbourne Rd., opened in 2014 as an “express branch” to serve a community that did not previously have close access to library services. It will remain open during construction of the new branch. The new, standalone Marion-Franklin Branch will be built a few blocks to the south of the current branch and will more than double its size from roughly 4,000 square feet to approximately 10,000 square feet. CML hopes to open the new Marion-Franklin Branch in 2025. Turner is the construction manager at risk and Schooley Caldwell and EVOKE Studios are the architects.
CML opened its new Gahanna Branch in 2023 and its new Reynoldsburg Branch earlier this year. CML’s Linden and Barnett branches are currently undergoing renovation and expansion and CML expects to break ground on a new, standalone Canal Winchester Branch later this year.
Click here to learn more about CML’s Aspirational Building Program. Click here for additional CML press announcements and media resources.
