IMEG provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, technology and fire protection engineering design and services for the City of Grimes’ new 22,000-sf, two-story public library. This is the first civic building the city has constructed in nearly 20 years.

The new library site sits on property purchased by the city in 2019. With the Local Option Sales and Services Tax (LOSST) passing in August 2019, Grimes officials were able to allocate funds to get the project off the ground. The city allocated the monies they deemed appropriate for the library but with prices continuing to rise and COVID making fundraising difficult, it was decided the project would continue on a smaller scale. The building was strategically placed upon the purchased piece of property so the city has the opportunity to expand the library at a later date to better meet the needs of the future population.

Due to the limited budget, IMEG designed more square footage that may be shelled out, if necessary, that gives future flexibility to build out these spaces if funding becomes available. Geothermal was originally considered for this new build but due to a project budget reduction, the HVAC system was switched to VRF.

Because the design included some very tight spaces, extensive Enscape modeling was used to ensure the fit of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology systems.

The new facility provides more space for work, study and collaboration as well as more social, programming, and play spaces to better serve the growing community in Grimes. A modern upgrade to Grimes’ old library facility, the new building added four study rooms, a sensory room, drive-thru drop box, additional public computers, state-of-the-art technology, one meeting room, a large children’s area, dedicated teen space, and drive-up window, making the Grimes Public Library a valuable gathering place for individuals, families, and businesses in the community.