Hennepin County has taken the first step toward potentially relocating the Southeast Community Library, formerly the State Capitol Credit Union, to a new site leaving the future of the Ralph Rapson building at risk. In 1963, while dean of the College of Architecture at the University of Minnesota, Rapson designed the State Capitol Credit Union in Dinkytown near the University of Minnesota’s East Bank campus. Four years later he was commissioned to convert the structure to a public library. Partially a subterranean building, the reading rooms and offices of the brick and glass structure are set up on a concrete platform several feet from the street level. Sixteen cruciform supports – cross-shaped, tapered concrete columns – help support the concrete, waffle-slab overhanging roof. Skylights provide additional light to the interior of the building. This gem of modern architecture is a rare example of a property that shares the same famed architect for its original building and renovation.
In December 2006 the Southeast Community Library was temporarily closed and discussions to designate it as a local landmark emerged. When the library reopened a year later following the merger of the Minneapolis and Hennepin County Library systems, concerns for the library were kept at bay. Despite having survived the 2006 system-wide Minneapolis Public Library budget crisis, the Rapson structure could again be under threat. According to Hennepin County Capital Projects project manager Kelli Koob, the Southeast Library is undergoing a facility and site assessment to gain a thorough understanding of current conditions. We anticipate that the county will discuss the outcome of the assessment with community members as part of the community engagement process in the fall.
Stay tuned to the Hennepin County Library Building Projects page for developments as they are posted. We encourage you to contact Docomomo US/MN if you wish to get involved and make the significance of this Rapson building known.
Read the MN Daily Article.
In December 2006 the Southeast Community Library was temporarily closed and discussions to designate it as a local landmark emerged. When the library reopened a year later following the merger of the Minneapolis and Hennepin County Library systems, concerns for the library were kept at bay. Despite having survived the 2006 system-wide Minneapolis Public Library budget crisis, the Rapson structure could again be under threat. According to Hennepin County Capital Projects project manager Kelli Koob, the Southeast Library is undergoing a facility and site assessment to gain a thorough understanding of current conditions. We anticipate that the county will discuss the outcome of the assessment with community members as part of the community engagement process in the fall.
Stay tuned to the Hennepin County Library Building Projects page for developments as they are posted. We encourage you to contact Docomomo US/MN if you wish to get involved and make the significance of this Rapson building known.
Read the MN Daily Article.
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