Designs for urban library on display today

The 3 p.m. event will be in the auditorium of the Hammons School of Architecture on the Drury University campus. Six initial project designs from Drury architecture students have been narrowed down to two finalists, both on display today.

One design, submitted by Brian Feldman, is a proposed library adjacent to Jubilee Park on Jefferson Avenue. The park was the first location of the television broadcast Ozarks Jubilee, and the location of the library would reflect the role of music in Springfield’s history.

The proposed facility would have areas for public performance and includes a possible tie-in with the Discovery Center.

The second design was created by Jason Hudspeth and directly incorporates the Jordan Valley Park development. The plan calls for a transformation of a parking lot at Boonville Avenue and Olive Street into “Library Park,” which would include a water feature running toward Founders Park and pedestrian pathways to the current trail.

The proposed library would act as a point of connection between Jordan Valley Park and the downtown area.

Teams of three, led by Feldman and Hudspeth, will present the designs at today’s summit. The Springfield-Greene County Library Board of Trustees and library staff then will review the public’s comments and the final designs. A decision is not expected for some time, said Jeanne Duffey, community relations director for the library district.

“This is a very, very initial brainstorming session,” she said. “We’re going to be examining the ideas, doing more research, gathering more information. We'll have to see where it goes from there.”