Location: Pueblo, CO

Services: HBM | Library Planning, Interior Design

                  AMD | Architect of Record

Size: 109,188 SF

Completion: 2024

Originally designed by renowned architect Antoine Predock, this five-story library is a landmark civic building defined by its powerful connection to the Arkansas Valley and the surrounding mountain landscape. HBM Architects orchestrated a comprehensive renovation and re-imagining of the facility, carefully preserving Predock’s original architectural intent while adapting the building to support contemporary library services, community use, and evolving modes of learning.

The building rises to capture expansive views of historic Pueblo to the east, with distant vistas to Pikes Peak to the north, the Wet Mountains to the west, and Greenhorn and the Spanish Peaks to the south. HBM’s work reinforces this relationship to place, beginning at the south-facing entry courtyard, where fruit trees and a reflective pool reference Pueblo’s agrarian roots and historic ties to water. Upon entering the library, visitors are greeted by commanding views through the 56-foot-tall glazed lobby wall—an iconic space renewed through enhanced transparency, lighting, and clarity of circulation.

Site and access improvements included the closure of the southern portion of Bates Street, allowing for the expansion of the existing parking lot and the addition new parking spaces, all located closer to the main entrance. This intervention also created a new outdoor event and learning environment, featuring a sloped terrace designed to function as an informal amphitheater and extend library programming into the landscape.

Interior renovations focused on opening up spaces, improving daylight and visibility, and aligning the building with current and future library operations. On Level 1 we reconfigured the floor to support discovery, making, and relaxation, introducing new lighting and finishes to brighten and unify the space. Key enhancements include the relocation of the highly interactive “Info Zone,” an expanded café, a prominently located makerspace, and the relocation of the rotating exhibit gallery from Level 4. This level also incorporates a new 100-person meeting room, a dedicated staff training area, and three existing high-use community meeting rooms.

HBM’s planning strategy on Level 2 created a cohesive, family-focused library floor by relocating the Children’s Library and pairing it with adult fiction and nonfiction, the Teen Library, and the Hispanic Resource Center and Collections. These adjacencies were intentionally designed to support flexible, multi-generational gathering and shared learning experiences. A Technology Core equipped with state-of-the-art multimedia resources was integrated across Levels 2 and 3, supporting both structured programming and informal use.

On Level 3, we expanded the Archives and Genealogy Collections, strengthening the library’s role as a steward of local history and research. Level 4 was transformed into a flexible, multipurpose event destination accommodating up to 220 people, offering dramatic panoramic views of the city and reinforcing the library’s identity as a civic and cultural hub.

Through thoughtful renovation and strategic planning, HBM Architects extended the life and relevance of a significant Antoine Predock building—honoring its architectural legacy while positioning it to serve the Pueblo community for generations to come.