St. Louis County Library will open the renovated Florissant Valley Branch on Wednesday, August 2 at 9:00 a.m. as part of the Your Library Renewed campaign. The branch is the first to feature a Discovery Zone–an entire floor dedicated to children with engaging, educational activities. Construction on the Florissant Valley Branch began in October 2016 and is part of a multi-year, $120+ million campaign to renovate or replace 19 branches within the Library District.
The Florissant Valley Branch is located at 195 New Florissant Rd., South.
The highlight of the renovated Florissant Valley Branch is the new children’s Discovery Zone, sponsored by Emerson. The space is designed to encourage children to explore, play and learn. The Discovery Zone has several unique features including a pneumatic tube display where kids can send lightweight scarves and balls through a series of tubes and control their trajectory. Another favorite will be the interactive light wall, similar to an oversized Lite Brite, where kids can create colorful designs. There’s also a large format touch screen where kids can play games and expand their digital literacy skills using educational apps. The Discovery Zone will also include an area for younger explorers, sponsored by Dana Brown Charitable Trust. The Early Explorers’ Area will have activities designed for small children such as reading nooks, interactive literacy panels, and a metal tube maze with moveable rings for kids to maneuver through loops and arches.
The renovated Florissant Valley branch also includes a designated space for teens with bold furniture and colorful fixtures. Three private study rooms have been added to the branch, as well as a quiet reading room, a laptop bar, a business center with fax, copy and scanning machines, and a vending area. Two revamped community meeting rooms will be available for use by individuals and organizations. New shelving, furniture and carpeting has been installed throughout the branch.
The renovated Florissant Valley Branch was designed by Bond Architects. The project’s budget was $3.6 million and was funded by proceeds from a 2012 tax initiative.
SLCL is in the second phase of the Your Library Renewed campaign; by the end of 2017, 14 branches will have been renovated or replaced. Construction will continue this fall with at the following branches: Mid-County, Grand Glaize, Thornhill and Meramec Valley. The timeline is subject to change based on weather conditions and other factors.
