The last of the 3 architectural firms being considered by the Chadron Library Board to design a planned expansion and renovation of the city’s century-old Carnegie Library made its pitch last night.

BVH of Lincoln…still Bahr Vermeer Haecker to most people…is the largest of the 3 firms and had 6 different people from 4 different companies as part of its presentation team last night.

BVH senior partner Dan Worth says the company has a lengthy experience in building and renovating libraries, using a Minneapolis architectural firm specializing in libraries for the design work, other Lincoln-based firms for engineering specialties, and local subcontractors for as much work as possible.

Worth says each project begins with an inspiration…which for the Chadron library is local artist and library board member Kit Watson’s book on the area…then moves forward to capture the importance of that place.

Worth says the BVH team works closely with library officials and local residents to determine the goals of the project and the best way to accomplish them.

Although BVH is based in Lincoln and has projects around the country, Worth says for him and several other staffers it almost feels like Chadron is home because they’ve spent so much time in the community over the past 30 decades working on some 40 projects at Chadron State College.

Videos of the presentations of all 3 design finalists…BVH, Geiger Architecture of Rapid City, and Humphriess Poli Architects of Denver…can be viewed on the Chadron Public Library website.

The library board is taking public input through next Friday and is hoping for a lot of it. Paper forms are available at the library and city hall, and comments may be made online as well. The board plans to make its choice among the 3 firms at its next meeting next month.