The Town of Little Elm from 1997 to 2002 was one of the 5 fastest growing municipalities in Texas growing from 1,250 to over 12,000 people. The town council engaged Hidell and?Associates Architects to program, masterplan and design (architectural, structural, MEP, landscaping and civil services) the first of several municipal facilties to house the growing town staff, however the over riding issue was the lack of a commercial tax base which significantly impacted the towns ability to build their current and long term needs. The council working with Hidell and Associates Architects developed a building program which would provide for the town administration, town council and temporarily house the police department and public library.

Bids were received in 2002 for $105/SF which compared to surrounding municipal administration facilities of $150 to $175/SF. Based on the Towns projected growth this 2-story, 27,000 SF complex would provide administrative space for five years. In 2011 Hidell and Associates Architects was commissioned to program and plan for the renovation, remodel and expansion of the library within the municipal facility. The City was under construction of a new Public Safety facility that was to house the Police and Fire operations (the Police would be moving out of the municipal facility allowing for the expansion of the library). Funding for the Library Expansion was available through the approved 2009-2014 Recreation and Liesure Bonds. The $835,000 expansion and renovation would more than double the current library space and enable more room for a larger book and audiovisual collection, more space for all age programming, separate areas for adults and youth, increased computer availability, and additional meeting/study rooms. The expansion also included the relocation of the Utility Billing Dept. to the second floor along with additional City renovations to the second floor. Hidell Architects during the programming phase developed six (6) different conceptual schemes which looked at and analyzed the staff efficiency, visual control, configuration, collection capacities (adult and children), program spaces, technology and flexibility of spaces for the reorganization, reconfiguration and expansion of the library. Hidell Architects also prepared phasing plans for the renovation and construction so that the City Council, staff and patrons were fully aware that the facility could remain operational at all times.