MEDIA ADVISORY: Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Bellview Library

The media and the public are invited to a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Bellview Library located at 6425 Mobile Hwy. in Pensacola on Monday, April 12 at 1 p.m. The 12,500 square foot building is expected to be completed Spring 2022. COVID-19 precautions are being taken so please RSVP at https://bit.ly/31ydSrD by Wednesday, April 7.

Speakers will include:
Vice Chairman and District 1 County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh
West Florida Public Libraries Director Todd Humble
Escambia County School Board Member Kevin Adams
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons
County Administrator Janice Gilley
(One or more Escambia County Board of County Commissioners may be in attendance)

Escambia County is adding on to a prior bank facility, which was 2,500 square feet and 10,000 square feet will be an addition. The architect for this project is STOA Architects. Hewes and Company is the contractor.

• The main portion of the library will consist of a large open space that is divided into areas such as a lobby, a story time area, a youth area and an adult reading area. This large open space will provide entrances to other support spaces such as multiple study rooms, staff rooms, a PC area and a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) room.
• Most of the existing bank footprint will be utilized primarily as a meeting room but will also function as a multipurpose room to use for programs geared toward the community. This room will have the existing bank structure exposed with some acoustical clouds to control the reverberation time.
• The development of the building’s façade was inspired by origami, the art of folding paper, which is why there are angles throughout the building.
• The new library will include an exterior lawn area with the ability to project movies onto the building for events.
• Most of the old oak trees on the south side of the property will be preserved. This south side will also serve as the location for a future park and playground so the large oak trees will be able to provide natural shade.
• A sidewalk will be built that provides a direct connection between the new library and Bellview Elementary providing accessibility for children to enjoy after school programs.