E.T. Roux Library

The E.T. Roux library, typically referred to as simply the "Roux Library," is located on the campus of Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL.^[1]

History

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for his Child of the Sun campus, the original Roux Library was built between the years of 1941-1945 at the cost of $120,000.^[2] The building is circular and housed a multi-tiered reading room in addition to library stacks. In March 1968, the new Roux Library opened in a different location on campus. The new location was designed by Nils Schweizer in a mid-century modern style. Schweitzer was a protege of Frank Lloyd Wright and went on to have a successful architectural career in the state of Florida.^[3]

Present Day

After the Roux Library moved in 1968, the original building was renamed the Thad Buckner Building and was used for lectures, seminars, and was the visitor's center for the Child of the Sun campus.^[4] Today, the visitor's center has moved into a new location. The space is still used for lectures and can also be rented for private events.

Construction

Typical of Frank Lloyd Wright style, the original Roux Library was constructed of reinforced concrete and concrete blocks. Long, narrow windows crown the concrete walls and interspersed throughout the concrete walls are small colorful cubes of glass that cast the sunlight in prismatic patterns.^[5]

References

1. http://www.flsouthern.edu/library/home.aspx
2. https://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/florida/lakeland/floridasouthern/wrightbuckner.html
3. http://myfloridahistory.blogspot.com/2009/05/roux-libraries.html
4. http://architecture.about.com/od/buildingsbyflw/ig/Florida-Southern-College/Thad-Buckner-Building.htm#step-heading
5. https://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/florida/lakeland/floridasouthern/wrightbuckner.html