ANKENY, Iowa- The City of Ankeny is building a new library. A bond referendum paid for the project. Ankeny city officials gathered this (Friday) morning for a ground-breaking. The new Kirkendall Library will be on District Drive, on the city's southwest side.
Ankeny City Manager David Jones tells WHO Radio News the building will be 55,000 square feet, and will include the Council Chambers. Construction cost is estimated at $12.7 million dollars. The project was part of a referendum approved last year.
Construction is expected to be completed next summer. The library will be located at 1250 SW District Drive.
The city plans to convert the existing Kirkendall Library into city office space. Jones says the existing library was built in the 1990s, and the city's population has more than doubled since then.
Ankeny’s population has more than doubled over the past 15 years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Ankeny is the 4th fastest growing city in the U.S. and the fastest growing city in the Midwest and with a population of 50,000+.