Olathe Downtown Library — Attraction in Olathe

An Architectural & Design Disaster: The New Olathe, KS Downtown Library

As a freelance designer, I've had the privilege of working remotely in various public spaces. Public libraries have often provided inspiration, accessibility, and abundant resources that embody effective remote workspaces. However, my recent visit to the New Olathe Downtown Library in Kansas proved to be a regrettable departure from these experiences. What initially seemed like a promising architectural venture, characterized by modern design, turned out to be the worst public space I have encountered in my travels. Despite its outward appearance, it simply masquerades as a mirage, utterly devoid of sensible functionality. The inviting essence that is the lifeblood of traditional libraries has been blatantly disregarded, resulting in a disturbing detachment from their fundamental community role.

The library space is divided by mirrored hoistways, dictating the library's overall layout. All vital resources, including restrooms, are located on the upper floors, while the lower-than-expected ceilings and inadequate lighting in book retrieval areas contribute to a sense of confinement, discomfort and claustrophobia.

On the southern side of the building, on each second, third, and fourth floors, I encountered unusual "gathering spaces" that reminded me of a combination of a cafeteria, food court, and an airport waiting area. These "spaces" lacked the expected intimacy and appeal commonly found in open library forums, a feeling further aggravated by the absence of individual tables that typically line the perimeter. The sense of a warm, communal, and inviting library environment was absent. The library's "meeting" rooms proved inadequate for gatherings and brainstorming sessions, lacking appropriately sized tables and the necessary whiteboard space to foster collaborative work. This collection of design inadequacies within such an institution was mind-blowing.

The library presents formidable accessibility challenges for individuals with mobility issues inside and outside the building. Establishing efficient pathways and compliance with accessibility standards were not prioritized during the library's design process. The usability of the entire building is primarily limited to the availability of an elevator or stairs, a layout that poses considerable challenges for individuals with various levels of mobility. The accessible parking spots are inconveniently situated on the lowest parking level, requiring individuals to navigate a zigzagging ramp to reach the first-floor entrance.

A well-executed design has a defined purpose and is crafted to ensure consistent and reliable performance of a specific function. This library falls significantly short. It is a state-of-the-art design disaster rather than what Lane 4 Property describes as a "state-of-the-art library deserving of state-of-the-art installations," – which clearly was more of a focus than this public resource's functionality. The underutilized south side courtyard, with an "ill-conceived" "fountain" mirroring the measurements of selective public pools, the perplexing interior "multi-use" theater area, limited public computer availability, and the squandered westside balcony, collectively stand as vivid examples of how architectural choices have overshadowed the library's central mission as a hub for learning and...

Checked out the new library today and we can sum it up in one word, claustrophobic. We were so excited for this new location to open, but it's quite disappointing. You walk into the ground floor to find a coffee shop, holds pickup, and the main desk with an “event space” locked off to the side. The Event Space is not open to the public and you have to rent the space through the JCPRD. So tax dollars used to build the “library” and we have to pay to use the space? That space could be used for other things for the public and most likely won’t get use that much. There are only 2 elevators and the stairs aren’t very welcoming or open and are very utilitarian. The doors for the stairs were closed and are loud to open so I can see that getting very annoying if I am trying to study on an upper level and people are coming and going since the stairs will be the main access way. As another commenter wrote, each level wasn't clearly marked. There are lots of wasted space with computers and meeting rooms. It felt more like an office place than a library. Parking in front is very small. I wish they put more thought on designing the inside as much as they did the outside. On the second floor the children’s play area is almost in the middle of the floor so it is very distracting to parents trying to read to their kids when people are coming and going. Other libraries put that in the back out of the way of the way of the entrance. Two areas I did like. I think the teen are was nice and the outdoor space on the 3rd level. The teen area had gaming computers, VR, Switch, PS5, and Xbox but thats really of no use to me. The outdoor area had a good view of downtown and would be a nice picnic place in decent weather. Overall I would still rather go to Monticello or Indian Creek as they are much better laid out and have more of an open, welcoming, feeling. Also, there is no Maker Space with 3D printers, laser engravers, large format printers etc that you would expect from a library built in 2023. For that we have to go to to Indian Creek still. I was really hoping that this new library would be an anchor to downtown much like the Lenexa Library is, but seeing it now, it is very poorly designed and I think it was a waste of...

I was on a road trip and stopped in Olathe to visit a friend. Went to the downtown library one day to get some work done while she was working.

I hear it's new and was impressed with how nice it is. However, I was little surprised by one of the library staff. And not really in a good way.

The top floor was full, lots of people working at the tables, but I was able to grab a seat near a window. Next thing I knew the librarian and the security guard came over to a man who had fallen asleep in one of the chairs. They told him he couldn't sleep there. OK, that's fine. I didn't even know he was there because he was so quiet but sure, rules.

Then maybe an hour later, the librarian walks over to a woman at one of the tables and tells her to put her shoes back on. I had a view of under the table and her shoes were on her feet but her heels were out and resting on the back of her shoes. So her actual socked feet were not anywhere on the library floor. Again this woman was quietly working bothering nobody.

But here's why it thought these two things were weird. There were also two people on the phone the entire time who I think were much more disruptive than either person mentioned above. AND one of the ladies on the phone was also eating cherries and spitting the seeds in a dirty paper towel which aside from disgusting is also against the library's policy.

I'm all for following guidelines and enforcing them but think the staff should focus on people who are actually disruptive (and gross). When I come back through town, I'll probably go to a coffee shop to...