A Vibrant New Community Hub in Downtown Celina
In the heart of one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, Celina’s new Downtown Center is designed to serve as the living epitome of their motto: Life Connected. By consolidating city government services and enriching cultural life with a public library, event space, and community hub in a single location, the center brings people together and strengthens the value of the downtown square.
The facility establishes a permanent home for the public library, anchoring the design around a four-story atrium that connects readers, families, and city staff in one transparent, light-filled environment. Meeting rooms, study areas, and flexible social spaces complement traditional library services, expanding the building’s role as a destination for events, education, and collaboration. The space is designed to flex and evolve, supporting the city’s changing needs for decades to come.
Placemaking was central to the project. The atrium is aligned directly with the town square gazebo—a historic landmark and the focal point of Celina’s many festivals. This connection makes the building part of the city’s network of public spaces, visually and functionally tying the Downtown Center to the community’s traditions. Around the edges, careful design turns outdoor spaces into people-friendly places, with shaded seating and landscaped walkways that encourage activity and connection.
The building also integrates amenities that make it both welcoming and safe. A small police hub within the facility provides a visible presence during events and enhances year-round security. On the opposite corner, a retail space known as the “Celina Swag Store” is envisioned as a venue for local goods and art, adding a distinctly cultural dimension to the project.
One innovative aspect of the design is the inclusion of a functional underground level. By locating mechanical systems and additional program space below grade, HED was able to accommodate the city’s ambitious program requirements without adding height that might overwhelm the scale of the historic downtown. This strategy balances growth with sensitivity, preserving the small-town character even as the city rapidly expands.
A rooftop garden and multipurpose event space extend the building upward into a new civic destination. Outfitted with a catering kitchen, shaded seating, and turf, the rooftop can host community movie nights, receptions, or library programs, while also providing staff a retreat for lunch and respite.
For Celina, the Downtown Center represents a major civic investment. But more than cost, its value lies in the way it weaves city services, cultural resources, and public amenities into one accessible hub.
