Lorton Library closing in April for renovation

Fairfax County announced last week that the Lorton Library will close the evening of April 11 to undergo extensive renovations for more than 21 months as part of its transformation into a collocated library and community center.

Once renovations are complete, the new library — located at 9520 Richmond Highway (see map) — will be 60 percent larger than its current 10,000 square feet, according to a county news release. The expanded facility will include a larger children’s space, teen room with gaming station, Wi-Fi/laptop bar, group study rooms, two conference rooms and a meeting room. The building’s technology infrastructure will be updated, and its design will meet green building and Americans with Disabilities standards.

The biggest difference, however, will be the library’s common entryway with an adjacent and brand-new Lorton Community Center, encompassing the current Lorton Community Action Center, Lorton Senior Center, a gymnasium and other facilities for people of all ages and abilities. The library and approximately 30,000 square-foot community center are slated for completion and occupancy in early 2022. Fairfax County’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services will manage the shared facility’s design and construction.

The impending construction phase of the collocated library and community center brings to an end the at times contentious community debate about the location and design of the facility. The Fairfax County Planning Commission approved the facility’s construction at its June 12, 2019 meeting, with Mount Vernon District Planning Commissioner Walter Clarke thanking all for their input and calling the facility a “game-changer for the Lorton community.”