Crete Public Library, Community, Technology Center

Nestled within the trees and greenery of Crete, Nebraska, the new library and technology center stands ready to serve Crete's residents for many years to come. The 19,860 SF building features all the amenities expected of a modern library and much more. Patrons of the library may enjoy the wide selection of literature while sitting in the adult reading room next to a warm fireplace, or the playful children's section, or the dynamic teen space with modular seating options. The building also boasts large meeting rooms, a coffee bar, a Makerspace, and serves as a place of safety in times of emergency.

The site itself provided the challenge of a 20 foot grade over two city blocks, but Sampson turned this into an opportunity to create a truly unique space for the city. This steep grade allowed the building to be settled into the hillside and be surrounded by pollinator's gardens, dozens of trees, a story book walk thorugh of a micro-prairie, and grasses native to Nebraska's original ecosystems.