Jacksonville's new $95 million public library

[bobliocatt]

Here's some general information about the new library under construction

scale model looking east

rendering of main facade

Size: 300,000 sf

Cost: $95 million

Completion Date: January 2005

Features:

First Floor

- a cafe and bookstore, designed after Barnes & Noble's retail concept.

- four story atrium with a circulation desk

- grand staircase to second floor

Second Floor

- Children's Library

- 105' x 105' landscaped outdoor courtyard space

- periodical & reference materials department

Third Floor

- Library administration

- non-fiction book collection

- multiple work rooms

Fourth Floor

- 42 ft high Grand Reading Room

- special collections department

The Court Level - (Main Street entrance)

- 400 seat auditorium

- meeting rooms

Parking Garage

- 600 parking spaces

- street level retail with wide sidewalks for outdoor dining

[bobliocatt]

I like the idea of having a cafe and a bookstore, at street level, facing Hemming Plaza. The bookstore will complement all the lofts and restaurants being developed along Adams & Laura Streets.

[prahaboheme]

This is a great project that will totally rock the Plaza when it is finished. It would be nice to get cafes all around that area and really utilize the Plaza to its potential.

[Urban_Legend]

This is my favorite BJP project. I can't wait for it to open. There was an article in Neighborhoods magazine that had more pics, some that I had never seen. There will be 600 public computers, according to the article. 600! The cafe idea was great. The whole thing is a success!

[Urban_Legend]

The Ritter Post Office?

by staff

If a Downtown post office is placed in the retail area of the new library

[bobliocatt]

From looking at the site plan for the Library complex in the Neighborhoods magazine, it looks like there may be room for both. A post office taking up a couple of storefronts alnd Duval Street, while a restaurant could take another space on the corner of Duval & Main.

I like the idea of a post office there, because downtown really needs one, and it seems like every project has space for a restaurant or cafe. I'm beginning to wonder if the downtown dining market will get over built, before a dense compact stretch of dining establishments featuring outdoor seating can be developed.

[wolfdawg54]

Do you know the completion date of the library?

[Urban_Legend]

I think it's early 2005. I know that they were thinking of using it to host Super Bowl parties in February. That would push the opening date back a couple more weeks, to allow more time to move books and such.

[wolfdawg54]

Good! They need to get that completed soon!

[DavePaulk]

The library project is one of my favorites. It's a great design, it is very very necessarry, and it will benefit the whole commmunity once it is completed. I also agree with Lakelander on the number of restaurants that seem to be coming to downtown. It seems that every new building will have space for dining.

[wolfdawg54]

Hopefully the resteraunts and clubs that are coming to downtown will liven up the area!

[bobliocatt]

I have no doubt that these places staying open late will re-energize the area. I just hope that there is enough momentum to keep this boom going after the Super Bowl is played here.

[wolfdawg54]

That would be neat if it could. It will not be an easy task.