Horizon West Library

The Horizon West Branch Library is currently planned for approximately 20,000-square-feet building that rests on 11 acres at the northeast corner of the 250-acre Horizon West Regional Park. The Library is designed to be incorporated into the natural landscape of the park, blending seamlessly into the surrounding area. The Library is sited to take advantage of the unique topography of elevation changes of the Lake Wales Ridge. Sitting on the far east edge of the site, the Library overlooks the surrounding terrain, foliage, and fauna. The site and building design are integrated, with the landscape influencing the building form and interior spaces that visually extend out into the land. The Main Entry Plaza sits in front of OCLS’s first planned outdoor events space. This connects to the high volume of the Entrance Lobby which sweeps through the main building, bridging the Public Meeting Halls to one side and the large interior volume of the Library Collections to the other which includes the Circulation Desk, Training Rooms, Study & Work Rooms, a Children’s Area, a Teen Area, Technology & Photography Labs. The Entrance Lobby terminates with views extending beyond the park and Visitors may move to the exterior Performance Plaza with covered stage. This Modern Library will provide much needed a multifunctional space for Horizon West citizens to use and will allow them to interact and learn new things within the building and the landscape. It’s more than a library, it’s a meeting place, a place to gather knowledge, a collaboration zone, a creative hub, and much more.

Designed with sustainability in mind, the library is planning to add solar and EV charging infrastructure in the upcoming design phase.

The new library will boast multiple meeting spaces that can be combined, providing ample room for various events and gatherings. Two 750 sq ft meeting rooms will be available along with one room 1,500 sq ft. All three spaces will be able to be combined to created an even larger space.  In addition to the meeting spaces, there will be two study rooms, two training rooms, and a media lab for technology use. For nursing mothers, the library will have a lactation room, which will provide a comfortable and private space for breastfeeding.

Library design is expected to be completed by the end of 2023 with construction set to start in Spring 2024. Horizon West Library is slated to open in Spring 2025.

These images are renderings only, and are subject to change before construction.