Raising the Roof
Library-Events Center Reaches Milestone
by Anne Mooney / October 30, 2020
The signing and hoisting of a roofbeam is an ancient practice dating back thousands of years. Some describe origins from pre-medieval Scandinavian cultures, some refer to native American practices, and still others hark back to 2700 BC Egypt. The ceremony marks the completion of the building’s skeleton, and the beam is symbolic of the upper-most piece going into place as the building reaches its full height.
David Odahowski, President & CEO of the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, a major donor to the Library-Events Center, affixes his signature to the beam.
Via Skype, design architect Sir David Adjaye said to the assembled crowd, “Today’s topping out ceremony represents a huge milestone in the completion of the Winter Park Library & Events Center. The power of this project is that it represents another prototype, another version of what the library has evolved into – the library as a campus of knowledge. Once completed, the new complex will bring together knowledge and community facilities to make a village, a hamlet of knowledge.”
“The new Library & Events Center in Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, will not only activate reading, imagination and creativity,” said Winter Park Public Library Board of Trustees President Lawrence Lyman, “it will be transformative for our community. . . . I couldn’t be more thrilled that the library’s vision has been brought to life by such a masterful architect.”
The grand opening of the Winter Park Library & Events Center is expected in the Fall of 2021.
I hope it’s being built with the latest energy efficient engineering, tight building envelope and solar panels, because its complete mis match with the “village” architecture that Winter Park is known for is beyond comprehension. Let’s hope at least that WP citizens won’t have to pay for huge energy bills to cool this behemoth.
Thank you. Couldn’t agree more!!!
Don’t be such a Debbie downer. Maybe the first book you should read from the new library is “The Law of Attraction”.
As this new campus for knowledge/leaning takes shape, I hope first on the planned curriculum will be a case study in Civics 101–why adequate budgets (and robust private sector fundraising) are critical for large public works projects, including contingencies; why unforeseen long-term operation and maintenance costs can blow up financials in the long run, why lack of transparency can do more harm to citizen trust in government for its next big project promise. Most curious—I have yet to find a single citizen who likes this design. Maybe we’ll hear from them in this column. Suggestion—to give it more appeal for our new tourism corridor on Morse—add a moat.
Architecturally speaking, it sort of looks like the old TWA terminal at JFK and a Kane’s furniture store in Casselberry had an orange baby together.
Certainly invites the question: “Quick way to Baggage Claim”
Spectacular design. A place for inspiration, education and hope.
It’s truly unbelievable that this will be built, here in Winter Park, at this time. I’m stunned, and will miss the having the opportunity to visit our small community library. I only hope that the new library gives back to this community.
I swear to God, if Adjaye had proposed a purple, circular 3 story building, the same people would have nodded in agreement and praised his genius. It’s so tiresome to watch the cheerleaders when bad taste is paraded in front of them.
I’m hoping I’m wrong, but the style which looks like ‘mid-century American coliseum’ is all wrong for WP and is what happens when a puffy starchitect is hired with the intent to win over the public. It failed terribly.
I honestly think Adjaye toured and studied Disney and Tomorrowland for ideas.
It’s not only a boondoggle in size and scale, but it’s a boondoggle in maintenance and the idea of building a new library when the world is going electronic is another outdated, myopic government push. It’s just like the feds clinging to gas.
There is nothing redeeming about this project and when you go to the polls next Spring remember that Sarah Sprinkel who is running for mayor “nodded” yes on every single aspect of this project opening up a flood of cost over runs because she wanted to please her friends instead of reading the fine print.
Folksy people are fun to hang out with, but they are not leadership material.
It may be a beautiful building, but it is not the “addition to the Rachel Murrah Civic Center” which was widely used, and needed by Winter Park, and not what the citizens voted for. It should have been proposed and voted on as a separate, ambitious project. Now we need the Rachel Murrah Civic Center back.
Maybe the folks who moved the Capen House across the lake can move this thing across the Pacific Ocean to Sydney, Australia, next door to their Opera House. Seems like a good architectural fit to me.
A young person, staring up, looking around in awe-inspired and intrigued by reading, because it’s close, amazing, and holds knowledge.
Those of a certain age, like me, have aspirations as well, the fruition of which will present and march on after we leave this earth. Inspiring the next generation.
What it’s not is perfect, satisfactory to everyone, eye pleasing to all, without overruns, cheap, etc. However, it is happening.
And for those who assign personal financial motive to my take, consider again, my tax hit will be significant. And that’s okay.
I hope this new library of hope and knowledge will bring more love, respect, understanding, equality and oneness in the hearts and lives of all people. “A time of Change”.
Love the idea of a moat. Cost is no object so let’s bring it on.
Peace, love and understanding? From this goat rodeo of a project?
Maybe. After all, accepting it in our midst will entail a great deal of forgiveness and understanding. Let the healing begin.
Time for the City Commission to install a dense tree canopy, completely surrounding the new buildings, so that the buildings become camouflaged from public view and won’t scare the kids.
The massive monolith on Morse menaces the metropolis with each maneuver on the midway.
Winter Park has Greg Seidel to thank for it. The former Winter Park City Commissioner was the tie breaker vote that moved construction forward of this maniacal monstrosity.
Here is the link to the video of the Library “Topping Out” festivities:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L354dnbNfE
Where is the list of individual donations (not corporate or foundation) to the new Winter Park Library and Events Center? Shouldn’t we expect to see large donations from Steve Leary, Greg Seidel, and Sarah Sprinkel? Have the members of the library Board of Trustees, the library task force members, and individuals who spoke at the Orange County Commission meeting (to ask for six million dollars in TTD funds) donated?
Thank you “Inquiring Mind”. I just brought that up on Facebook. When we moved Casa Feliz it was as controversial if not more than the library.
The pro-development crowd didn’t like saving historic buildings and they let us know about it daily. We didn’t get a penny from the City because the Carlisle politicians were in office.
But, we kept our donor list open for all to see because we believed in transparency. WE moved the house and renovated it thanks to a few very deep pocketed donors, the generosity of the Rogers and a grant from the State of Florida. What do the library people have to show? We’ve spent over $40 million and the debt is growing. Why not publish the individual donors and put this darkness to rest.
I remain woefully concerned about the notion that attendance at the Library / Event Center will provide adequate parking at the adjacent parking garage. The Commission believed that an agreement would allow visitors to the Center admission to the facility. I must say that every time that I have been to the restaurants there, parking has been dear. Can you imagine how the businesses will be effected by an event competing with business patrons. A solution must be resolved soon.
After hours and weekend Parking will be available directly across Morse Ave to the north.