(Colorado Springs) April 17, 2023 - The Hall at PPLD is the new name for Knights of Columbus Hall (KCH), Pikes Peak Library District’s (PPLD) community event facility located adjacent to Penrose Library in downtown Colorado Springs. PPLD adopted the new name to better reflect how it supports the community by offering a large public space downtown for community members to hold meetings, performances, classes, and beyond at no cost. The name is already in effect, and new signage was installed on Wed., April 12 showing the new name.
The building was opened in 1928 and is one of the last buildings designed by Thomas MacLaren, one of Colorado’s well-known historical architects. The Knights of Columbus used the venue as a meeting hall, but it was also dedicated to civic events. Its current incarnation is a return to its original intended purpose. Bazaars, fiestas, fairs, public lectures, dancing and card parties, boxing matches, and wrestling matches were some of the events that took place in the building in the early days. St. Mary’s High School also used it extensively during this time, and held dances, social events, and basketball games there.
The city of Colorado Springs eventually bought the building, and it served as home to the Colorado Springs Pioneer’s Museum from 1937 – 1977.
PPLD purchased the building in 1996 and has used it for a variety of purposes including office space and collection management. Today, the Library District hosts a variety of library programs at the Hall at PPLD that are designed to provide community members with resources, from entertainment and small business resources to food security and housing assistance. A few regular events hosted in this venue include The Story Project, Pikes Peak Poetry Summit, Community Exchange, and numerous community-sponsored events.
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Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) provides everyone with access to resources and opportunities so people can thrive and connect. The Library cultivates spaces for belonging, personal growth, and strong communities via 16 facilities, mobile library services, and a large online hub of resources. It is an internationally recognized system of public libraries serving a population of nearly 740,000 across 2,070 square miles in El Paso County, Colo. Learn more at ppld.org.