Renovations planned for George Mason Regional Library
A project to renovate the George Mason Regional Library in Annandale is in the design phase.
The interior space will be rearranged, but the footprint will not change.
The project calls for relocating the information desk to the area next to the check-out desk, a member of the Library Board explains. That will free up space in the middle of the library for a new reading area with comfortable chairs.
Small meeting rooms will be added along the walls, like the ones at the Culmore Library. A divider will be installed in the large meeting room to provide more flexible space.
The shelves will be rearranged to bring in more natural light, and the interior space will be refreshed with a brighter color scheme.
The $15 million project was included in a library bond referendum approved by voters in 2020.
VMDO Architects is working on the design, and Whitman Requardt & Associates is developing a plan to upgrade the building systems.
The library, located at 7001 Little River Turnpike, is one of the busiest in the county’s library system, according to the Fairfax County Capital Improvement Program for 2025-29.
“The current floor layout does not provide for efficiency in operations or reflect a modern library design,” the CIP states. “Based on the age and condition of the facility, significant renovation is needed to revamp infrastructure and new technology is required to support customer needs.”
According to the CIP, there have been problems with the HVAC system, the electrical wiring is inadequate to support device usage by customers, and facility-related repairs need to be done. The document does not include a timeline for starting construction.
6 responses to “Renovations planned for George Mason Regional Library”
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From Alxnow: From Arlnow:
A senior living community in Alexandria’s West End is looking to expand by building a two-towered 14- to 16-story apartment building with 257 units.
The View Alexandria by Goodwin Living acquired the seven-acre property at 5000 Fairbanks Avenue and 5101 Fillmore Avenue from Hermitage Northern Virginia three years ago. It currently consists of a five-story medical building, surface parking and a six-story apartment building with 126 units for independent and assisted living care. Now Goodwin Living is asking the city for permission to approve a development special use permit for a 700,000-square-foot building by increasing its allowable height from 150 feet to 175 feet for the south tower, six feet on the North Tower (to 156 feet), a 30% bonus density and a reduction of off-street parking.
Great to hear!!
Will this improve safety ? Will this lower wasted property tax? Will it fix lake Accotink ? Aren’t there a ton of other libraries in the county and neighboring municipal areas?
Can we get more details? I completely support our library but think $15 million to move a desk and shelves, install new interior walls, repaint, and buy arm chairs does not sound right. It’s a big building, so I’m sure the HVAC and electrical will be expensive, but that expensive? Is it just the architectural firm’s fees that are driving the costs?
George Mason Regional does get very crowded, and the central information kiosk area would be freed up for events and book sales, so they should definitely rearrange the furniture. However, the current color scheme identifies this Library with the history of this area distinct from the newer library open-air design schemes in most of the other Libraries of Fairfax. They should keep the current color combinations as they are more calming and relaxing for older readers.
100% support this, the minute you walk in the library it just feels and even smells old. A renovation is due!