Sinclair bricks to be used in new library; REPLAY live chat on library design

Cedar Rapids Public Library's spokeswoman Amber Mussman reports this morning that the library has received four pallets of bricks from the historic Sinclair smokestack, which the library will incorporate into its new downtown facility to be built across from Greene Square Park on Fourth Avenue SE.

Library Director Bob Pasicznyuk says the library wants to use the bricks because it wants to build a new library that reflects the history and values of the community.

“Taking pieces of history and integrating them in functional ways in our new building is one way in which we are honoring the past while creating a civic space designed for the future,” he says.

Demolition on the Sinclair smokestack began in July. The bricks from the smokestack have been tested and declared safe for reuse.

D.W. Zinser, the Walford-based contractor hired to do the Sinclair demolition, selected the best bricks and delivered them to the Ryan Companies US, Inc. yard, at no cost. Ryan is the contractor overseeing the library construction.

Construction on the new downtown library is expected to begin in the summer of 2011 with a completion date of late 2012.

• LIVE CHAT TODAY: Library officials hosted a live chat on the design for the future library at 11 a.m. today. Replay the chat here.