Construction of the new Lee County Public Library at Bonita Springs is now underway on Felts Avenue, one block off Old 41 Road.
DeAngelis Diamond is building the two-story, 31,000sf library, which was designed by BSSW Architects, Inc. It replaces the existing 12,000sf library on Pine Avenue, which was built in 1976 and renovated during the 1990s. Last year, it closed for three months due to water damage from Hurricane Irma.
BSSW created the new library’s floor plan after reviewing hundreds of resident responses collected in a community engagement survey. The result is a building that blends traditional Old Florida elements with contemporary design features, such as a stucco and stone veneer, towering windows with Bahama shutters and a pergola-covered second-floor balcony. Other design elements include reading balconies, a covered entry, a glass stairwell, private meeting rooms, more than 50 public-access computers, and dedicated spaces for adults, teens and children.
There also will be public meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 150 people and an outdoor courtyard reading area on the second floor, complete with WiFi and charging stations. An interactive computer system will incorporate workstations throughout the building for users to see what’s available and reserve material.
The project broke ground in March and is slated for completion in the summer of 2019.
Over the years, BSSW has created architectural designs for a number of other public libraries in Lee and Collier counties. Most recently, it designed the 25,000sf Lee County Public Library at North Fort Myers, which broke ground in late November and is under construction.
For more information, please visit www.deangelisdiamond.com or www. BSSWarchitects.com, or call BSSW at 239-278-2828.
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