9/1/2005 | Groundbreaking Celebration on the site

10/31/05 | Existing library and parking lot, soon to be construction site

11/9/05 | Removal of the parking lot begins

11/18/05 | Excavation moves along, 300 truckloads per day

12/7/05 | A very large hole, in winter

3/29/06 | Lower level walls going up, seen from existing library

4/26/06 | Lower level walls and floor in place, pouring of first floor starts in northwest corner (at right)

5/18/06 | Pouring of first floor continues, second floor columns started

6/20/06 | Second floor columns and second floor being poured

7/13/06 | Second floor being poured

9/14/06 | Third floor poured in northeast corner

10/12/06 | Steel roof beams for two-story part of building

11/8/06 | Brick on south side (photo montage)

12/6/06 | Brick work continues, meeting room pavilion excavated (photo montage)

12/21/06 | Enclosing the building for interior work, north side

12/21/06 | Brick piers for sun shading on west side

1/23/07 | Steel for the meeting room pavilion goes up

1/23/07 | Meeting room pavilion takes shape, view from the south

2/21/07 | Preparing to hang glass on north side, second floor

3/29/07 | Installing framing for glass on the south side, third floor. The structure for the meeting room pavilion is at the right. Main entry doors will be in the recessed area.

3/29/07 | Glass on south side, west end, completed; all glass has a reflective coating and a layer of insulating argon gas for energy efficiency

4/19/07 | The limestone-covered meeting room pavilion takes shape on the east side of the new library (at the left side of this photo), as seen from Randolph Street.

4/19/07 | Closer view of the limestone facing on the south and east sides of the meeting room pavilion

5/21/07 | Meeting room pavilion, as seen from the east

6/22/07 | Work starts on the driveway for the drive-up book drop off Healey Street on the north side of the new library. At left is the loading dock.

9/20/07 | The new library, where work proceeds near the entryway, is only a few feet away from the existing library, at left.

10/9/07 | The north side, with drive-up book drop access off Healey Street.

10/9/07 | The west side, ready for grass to be seeded. An entrance off State Street will be just to the right of the building as you see it here.

11/5/07 | View of the north and west sides of new library at dusk

11/5/07 | North side at night

11/5/07 | Library sign being installed near Robeson Pavilion patio

11/5/07 | Closeup view of concrete letters in library sign; letters weigh from 400 to 1,000 pounds each.

12/3/07 | Southwest corner

12/3/07 | New library reflected in old

12/5/07 | Patron inside old library, new library sign — and City Building — in background

12/5/07 | DVDs inside old library, new library lobby area behind

12/14/07 | We’ve made the move to the new place. Patrons are finding their way to the new drive-up book return, at the back of the building.

12/14/07 | The monumental library/library sign at night, outside the glow of the future cafe space.

12/18/07 | The book return area, lower left, is well lit at night, with an entrance off Healey Street. This view shows the nonfiction books upstairs and the children’s area below it.

1/18/08 | Demolition of the old library; a patron walks past the shell of the old building, along with the Library/Library sign that marks the corner of the new library.

1/21/08 | The new library is gradually revealed as the old library comes down. Nearly all of the materials in the old library were sorted and salvaged.

3/12/08 | Drainage is installed under what will become part of the parking lot. The final lot will have 190 spaces, compared to the current 115, plus plenty of landscaped islands and trees. Drainage is designed to retain heavy rains, releasing some water slowly into the soil and gradually feeding the rest into the storm sewer system.

4/23/08 | Work progresses on the entry drive off State Street, seen here, and the rest of the parking lot. The final lot will have entrances off both State and Randolph Streets. The street running in front of the library will be called Clara Lane.

4/23/08 | Construction provides free entertainment for little ones. Here, the big drill, preparing for installation of bollards, fascinates.

4/24/08 | Ginkgo trees are planted along Green Street by City of Champaign arborists. More than 30 trees will grace the perimeter of the library block, including Zelkova and Red Oak. Landscaped islands in the parking lot will provide additional greenery.

5/12/08 | Five angled lights on poles will illuminate the center part of Clara Lane, the street that will run between State and Randolph in front of the library.

5/12/08 | This broader view shows the location of lights in front of the library, as work on pavement and steps also proceeds.

5/12/08 | Pavement gets decorative details where Clara Lane passes in front of the library.

5/15/08 | Sculptural concrete chairs and tables have been installed on the patio. Engraved stainless steel strips recognizing gifts to the library will be added to the pavers.

5/15/08 | Pre-cast concrete slabs, being installed here, add the finishing touch to the library’s front steps.

6/17/08 | The front steps and parking area near the library opened on June 16, 2008. Distinctive angled lights are seen here.

6/17/08 | Work proceeds on the eastern portion of the sidewalk leading to the front doors.

6/19/08 | Landscaping includes trees, shrubs, and perennials throughout the parking lot, to provide cooling shade in the summer and reduce the buildup of heat on the parking lot surface.

6/30/08 | Engraved strips are installed in the patio outside the cafe, recognizing donors to the new library, or those in whose honor gifts were made.

6/30/08 | Curbing is poured to complete the landscaping islands in the northern section of the parking lot.