Imagination Center

The Imagination Center at Reindahl Park is a transformative, multi-agency collaboration between the City of Madison, Madison Public Library, and Madison Parks. Located on Madison’s northeast side near the intersection of East Washington Avenue and Portage Road, the project reimagines 91-acre Reindahl Park with a new 17,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art library and community facility.

The Center responds directly to the Madison Public Library System’s 2016 strategic growth plan, which identified a gap in library services on the city’s northeast side. Beyond lending books, the facility will provide vital community services such as immigration and citizenship resources, literacy assistance, and inclusive gathering spaces—positioning the Imagination Center as a vital hub for civic engagement and cultural expression.

The design features a centralized circulation desk and houses a 42,000-volume library collection. A range of flexible, purpose-built spaces—including multiple meeting rooms, classroom areas, a family hub, reading room, and comfort room—support diverse user needs. A 580-square-foot vestibule links the library to the adjacent pavilion, which contains a large community meeting space that can be subdivided for smaller events. This flexible pavilion area will serve both library and parks programming and be available for private event rentals.

Outside, the site is designed to foster connection and creativity with features such as a solar tree, designated event area, quiet seating nooks, and expansive patios with seating. The architectural design is carefully integrated with the park’s natural landscape, preserving mature trees and shaping both indoor and outdoor spaces around them.

The Imagination Center is being designed to LEED Silver standards, emphasizing sustainability, energy efficiency, and long-term environmental stewardship.