COLUMBUS—Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) yesterday topped out its new Marion-Franklin Branch with the final steel beam.
Click here for B-roll from the event.
CML CEO Lauren Hagan led the ceremony, which included State Sen. Hearcel Craig, State Rep. Latyna Humphrey, CML Trustee Catherine Strauss, City of Columbus Neighborhood Liaison to the South Side Katherine Cull and representatives from Schooley Caldwell, EVOKE Studio and Turner Construction.
To prepare for construction, CML held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 29, 2024.
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 remains open during construction of the new branch. The new, standalone Marion-Franklin Branch is under construction 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 Studio are the architects.
Click here to learn more about CML’s Aspirational Building Program. Click here for additional CML press announcements and media resources.
