Lake Flato Architects’ Post

Thanks to Bloomberg News for featuring the new Cedar Park Public Library among the next generation of libraries redefining what it means to be a civic hub—revitalizing downtowns and inspiring community life. As the first building in the City of Cedar Park's new Bell District, the library serves as both anchor and catalyst—the heartbeat of a vibrant, 50-acre walkable destination. Designed as the city’s front porch, the Cedar Park Public Library is more than a library: it’s a third place, connecting The Backyard, a new 16-acre public park, with the district’s emerging residential, retail, and office destinations. The library’s success is evident in how the community has embraced it. In its first six months of opening, the library welcomed 330,000 visitors—matching the former library’s busiest year in recent history—and daily attendance now averages 2–5× higher than the previous facility. We’re honored to see this community landmark recognized with the 2025 ULI Austin Best Public Project Award, demonstrating the importance of thoughtfully designed civic spaces for the future. Click here to read the full story: https://lnkd.in/eV87nUi6 Photography: Lara Swimmer & Robert Gomez AOR & Interiors: Lake Flato Architects General Contractor: JE Dunn Construction Programming: 720 design inc. Civil Engineer: Dunaway Landscape Architect: Coleman & Associates Structural Engineer: Datum Engineers MEP Engineer: Jose I Guerra, Inc. Lighting Design: Studio Lumina AV/IT Security: Datacom Design Group Wayfinding: fd2s Envelope Consulting & Commissioning: Acton Partners Consulting MEP Commissioning: NV5 Acoustics: EEA Consulting Engineers