The Jessie Ball duPont Fund took reporters on a tour of the old Haydon Burns library in downtown Jacksonville on Monday. The building, opened in 1965, was closed in 2005 when the new Main Library opened.
The Fund finalized its purchase of the building last month. It plans to convert it to a philanthropic and nonprofit center. Fund President Sherry Magill says the idea is based on a similar concept in Wilmington, Delaware.
The amount of usable office space will be expanded to over 80,000 square feet. The air conditioning unit along with the elevators, windows and part of the interior will be replaced.
The outside walls with their iconic structure will remain and be cleaned.
Work is expected to take at least 18 months to complete with occupancy expected in late 2014 or early 2015.
Here is some video of the inside of the building:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E18Fn-87wp8
