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The Salt Lake City Public Library is a neat building located in downtown Salt Lake City. It was opened in 2003, and replaced the old SLC Public Library that was located in what is now was The Leonardo. It holds over 500,000 books, a subscription to over 60 newspapers and magazines, and expansive digital library, and 163 computers with access to the internet.
This is a small collection of photos I have taken over the years, and sadly doesn’t contain any indoor shots. Next time I am here I will definitely try to get some.
Quick Details:
Length: How ever much you want to wander.
Trail Type: Get out and see.
Difficulty: DR1, Get out and see.
Elevation Gain: NA
Restroom: Inside
Dogs? No.
Other Info:
To Get Here:
Take i15 to 600 S head east for about 1.2 miles. Turn left onto 200 E. Go about 2 blocks and it will be on the right. There is a parking garage underneath accessed from 400 South.
The Adventure:
This fascinating architecturally unique building was designed by the firm Moshe Safdie and Associates partnered with a local architecture firm, VCBO Architecture.
Moshe Safdie and Associates have built quite a few famous, unique buildings around the world. It’s kind of crazy to think we have a building designed by them here in little ol Salt Lake.
The City County Building across the street in Washington Square. It housed the first and original Salt Lake City Public Library on the top floor. from 1898 to 1905.
The front.
Then the library was moved into the old Hansen Planetarium building until 1964.
Then it was moved into what
The new building at night. As I mentioned, it officially moved here in February of 2003.
The building is 5 stories tall and is wedge shaped.
The block that the library now resides on is referred to as Library Square. Additional buildings were planned to fill in the rest of the block, but Mayor Rocky Anderson asked for them to be left out in favor of creating a public park. Thank you Mr. Anderson!
Other notable features of the building include:
- Fireplaces on four of the floors and were designed to resemble a column of fire when viewed from 200 East and 400 South. (I was not aware of this, and now need to see if I can see it for myself!)
Image from Google Maps. Unfortunately there are no night shots. So.. it is now on my list!
- A "lens" on the south side of the building, which helps to warm the building during the winter, and saves on heating costs.
- A gallery displaying works of local artists.
- A coffee shop with a private staircase providing direct access to the "Canteena," an area which contains the young adult section.
- A children's library that is visible from all floors and has special areas for children to read and for baby care.
- A spiral staircase and three glass elevators.
- A rooftop garden
The neat archway.
In 2013 a traveling band of acrobats called Bandaloop performed along the 5 story tall window during the Utah Arts Festival.
Additional images from the Arts Festival.
It proved to be a great back drop for troops to perform in front of.
Australia's Strange Fruit performing in at the 2014 Utah Arts Festival.
For being such a new building (Anything built in my lifetime feels new to me hah) it has seen quite a few tragedies.
- in 2005, a woman jumped from the roof to her death.
- in 2006, a small bomb exploded on the 3rd floor.
- in 2011, a woman jumped from the 4th floor inside and died.
- in 2012, a man jumped from the balcony inside to his death.
- in 2013, a man jumped from the roof to his death.
- in 2013, a man jumped from the roof, and survived the fall.
Well, that my quick little bit on the Salt Lake Public Library. I might come back and add some additional pictures over the years. It is a super neat building and has been the backdrop of Pride, as well as many other festivals in the city. 10 out of 10 squirrels.
As for difficulty, it can be a get and and see: DR1, or walk around the city path a bit: DR2.
Dogs are allowed in city parks, leashed. But not in the building, or when there is a big festival.
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