Savannah is getting a new Oglethorpe Library, and recently released renderings are giving locals a first look at what the future branch could look like.
The new library is planned for county-owned property near Eisenhower Drive and Waters Avenue, replacing the longtime Oglethorpe Mall branch that has been in the area for nearly 50 years. The project is expected to cost around $11.5 million and would give the library significantly more purpose-built space than its current location inside the mall.
Designed by Savannah architecture firm GMSHAY, the new building is planned around an open, modern layout with plenty of natural light and exposed wood throughout. Current plans include a central courtyard, separate reading areas for children and adults, meeting rooms, a maker space and outdoor areas. Solar panels are also included in the concept.
The project is still in the planning and design stage, so the recently released renderings provide an early look rather than a final version of the building. Construction has not yet started, and some elements could change as plans move forward.
The current timeline calls for construction bidding to begin near the end of 2026, with the new Oglethorpe Library targeting an opening around mid-2028.
For now, the existing Oglethorpe Mall branch remains open. After nearly five decades inside the mall, the move would mark a major change for one of the area’s longtime library branches and give it a permanent space designed specifically around modern library services.
