New purpose for old building

When the Aiken County Public Library moved into the old Aiken Institute building on Chesterfield Street, only one portion of the structure was used to house the library. The north wing with its 17,000 square feet of space was left vacant.

Now that portion of the building is being examined as to what might become its mission in future years. The discussion got started this week when Solicitor Strom Thurmond Jr. made a presentation to Aiken County Council asking that his office be allowed to use the empty portion of the former school building. The solicitor currently has offices in the Aiken County Judicial Center on Park Avenue, but the needs of the staff have outgrown the space in that facility.

Mr. Thurmond has some employees in an office on Barnwell Avenue and others housed at Kalmia Mall. It makes sense to combine the employees of the solicitor into a single comprehensive facility - whether that is the Aiken Institute facility or elsewhere. One thing that makes the Aiken Institute appealing is its proximity to the courthouse.

There are other considerations as well. Will using the facility for the solicitor's office interfere with future growth of the library? What will be the cost of preparing the building for the solicitor's employees? Is the office of solicitor being included in plans associated with a new/renovated county office complex?

Regardless of what use is made of the Aiken Institute's north wing, the fact that its use is being discussed is a good thing. This is an Aiken landmark that is under-utilized. Getting it back into public discussion is a positive first step.