Celebrating the Opening of the New Parma Heights Library

It was a great day to celebrate the ribbon‑cutting ceremony of the new Parma Heights (Ohio) Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL). Shook proudly served as the construction manager for the project.

The grand opening  welcomed nearly 2,000 patrons to the branch and featured remarks from CCPL CEO Jamar O. Rahming, Parma Heights Mayor Marie Gallo, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne, and other civic and government leaders.

The 22,000‑square‑foot, modern facility is nestled next to woods and parkland, and the exterior brickwork is meant to evoke the texture of tree bark. Skilled tradespeople laid each brick individually to achieve just the right look.

Inside, the building was constructed with a raised floor system that conceals mechanical, electrical, and data infrastructure rather than exposing these elements above the ceiling as in a typical build. This approach supports a cleaner aesthetic while allowing greater flexibility for future modifications.

The bright interior offers plenty of views of the outdoors, and a patio at the back of the building allows patrons to get even closer to nature. A dedicated children’s room continues the nature-inspired theme.

The new building will serve as a hub for the community, offering residents access to books and resources, an Innovation Center, meeting rooms, and collaborative learning spaces. The library also includes space for Aspire Greater Cleveland, which provides free adult education services and workforce programs.

Shook is proud to have worked with design partner Bialosky on this transformational project, which will benefit the Parma Heights community for years to come.