After Years of Planning, the Nation's First Public Nature Library Will Open August 8 in Thornton
THORNTON, CO — At first glance, it doesn't look like a library. A sweeping roofline inspired by prairie grasses rises above towering steel columns, native gardens surround the building, and trails extend into more than 140 acres of open space. Inside, children are encouraged to climb boulders, visitors can borrow hiking gear instead of just books, and families can spend the afternoon exploring gardens, outdoor classrooms, and even a purpose-built mud pit before settling into a quiet reading space.
Exterior Photo of the Anythink Nature Library | Photography by Unfound Door
Opening August 8 in Thornton, the 33,000-square-foot Anythink Nature Library is the nation's first public nature library, introducing an entirely new model for what a public library can be. Rather than serving solely as a place to borrow books, the library was designed to help people build a lasting relationship with the natural world through architecture, landscape, education, and hands-on exploration.
The project sits on a 15-acre campus inside the 140-acre Aylor Open Lands, a former working ranch owned by the City of Thornton. According to Anythink Libraries, the location was chosen after community conversations revealed a growing desire for more opportunities to experience nature close to home. While Colorado is known for its outdoor recreation, library leaders found that transportation, equipment costs, and unfamiliarity with outdoor activities often prevented many residents from fully enjoying those experiences. Instead of asking people to travel farther into nature, the library brings nature directly to the community.
From above, the building's three sweeping roof forms resemble blades of prairie grass bending in the wind, reflecting the surrounding shortgrass landscape. Visitors intentionally see very little of the building from the street, allowing the campus to gradually reveal itself as they approach the entrance. Inside, natural light fills nearly every space, curved walls replace rigid geometry, and carefully framed views reconnect visitors with the surrounding landscape. Even the massive sculptural column supporting the entrance canopy tells its own story. Constructed from approximately fifty individually fabricated steel pieces, the column required virtual reality-assisted welding during fabrication to achieve the precision necessary for both its artistic appearance and structural role.
Photo of the Hand Crafted Steel Canopy Pillar | Photography by Developing Denver
Beyond its architecture, sustainability was integrated into the project from the beginning. The library is pursuing LEED Gold certification and incorporates 370 rooftop solar panels capable of supplying roughly half of the building's electrical demand. Beneath the building, forty geothermal wells extending approximately 40 feet underground connect to nearly six miles of piping that provides heating and cooling throughout the facility. Bird-safe glazing, native landscaping, and other environmentally focused design strategies further reinforce the library's connection to the natural world.
The building itself is organized around what Anythink calls the Environmental Kinship Model, a philosophy that explores four different relationships with nature: being in nature, learning about nature, caring for nature, and experiencing nature together. Rather than organizing the building around traditional library departments, these ideas shaped the architecture, collections, programming, and outdoor spaces, creating a library where the building itself becomes part of the educational experience.
Interior Photo of the Anythink Nature Library’s Central Hall | Photography by Developing Denver
Visitors entering the library are welcomed into a soaring central hall filled with natural light, a living plant wall, and custom bamboo finishes designed around principles of biophilic design. More than fifty Colorado animals, insects, reptiles, and other wildlife are embedded throughout the terrazzo flooring, creating opportunities for future scavenger hunts and educational activities. Flexible shelving systems allow much of the main floor to transform into an event venue capable of hosting up to 250 people, reflecting the library's goal of functioning as both a community gathering place and an educational resource.
Nearby, the indoor-outdoor Art and Science Lab was designed for hands-on experimentation, with large garage doors opening directly onto an outdoor classroom. The space will host activities ranging from studying insects under microscopes and creating natural dyes to exploring native plants and conducting environmental science programs. Floor drains, durable finishes, and adaptable workstations allow visitors of all ages to fully engage with messy, hands-on learning without worrying about keeping the space pristine.
Throughout the library, each space was designed with a specific purpose. While the Sun Room provides a bright gathering place for children's story times and family programming, the nearby Dark Room offers a dramatically different experience. Inspired by the calming atmosphere of sitting around a campfire, the room features charred cedar walls created using the traditional Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique, programmable star-like lighting, and a low-sensory environment intended for relaxation, meditation, and inclusive programming. Library staff also envision using the space for constellation presentations and other educational experiences throughout the year.
Interior Photo of the Anythink Nature Library’s Dark room | Photography by Developing Denver
Outside, the experience continues well beyond the building itself. Visitors can explore demonstration gardens showcasing different Colorado ecosystems, a learning garden where children can grow plants and herbs, community garden plots managed in partnership with Denver Urban Gardens, outdoor gathering spaces, storytelling areas, and a quarter-mile accessible trail loop. A dedicated mud play area encourages children to get dirty and interact directly with nature, while additional trails planned by the City of Thornton will eventually connect the campus to the surrounding 140-acre Aylor Open Lands. Anythink also plans to expand its programming across the broader open space as additional trail infrastructure is completed.
One of the library's most unique features is its expansive collection of "TryIts," experiential kits and equipment that allow visitors to check out much more than books. Opening day will feature approximately 550 items across 65 collections, including birdwatching kits, wildlife cameras, microscopes, hiking gear, gardening tools, weather exploration equipment, conservation resources, and nature art supplies. The collection is expected to grow to more than 1,500 items over time, giving residents an opportunity to explore outdoor activities before investing in their own equipment.
Community collaboration also played a significant role in shaping the project. Throughout the design process, Anythink assembled an Indigenous and Native American Advisory Council whose members worked alongside library leadership, architects, and the construction team to influence both the building and its programming. Ideas surrounding reciprocity, storytelling, duality, and humanity's relationship with the natural world became embedded throughout the architecture, landscape, and educational experiences. Those conversations also inspired spaces such as the Indigenous Voices collection, sacred serviceberry plantings, and storytelling areas located throughout the campus.
Aerial Photo of the Anythink Nature Library’s Central Garden | Photography by Unfound Door
When the doors officially open on August 8, visitors will be able to experience the library during a free community celebration from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring guided nature walks, wildlife encounters, story times, live performances, interactive art activities, and opportunities to explore both the indoor spaces and outdoor campus.
More than just a new library branch, the Anythink Nature Library represents a new vision for what public libraries can become. By combining architecture, environmental education, community gathering spaces, and direct access to nature, the project challenges the traditional definition of a library while creating a destination designed to inspire curiosity long after visitors leave with a book in hand.
Development Team
Owner: Anythink Libraries
Partner: City of Thornton
Architect: Davis Partnership
Landscape Architect: THK Associates + Strata Design & Planning
General Contractor: GH Phipps
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All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.
6 minute read • The nation's first public Nature Library opens August 8 in Thornton, featuring trails, gardens, outdoor classrooms, and immersive nature experiences.