The Kevin Brady Library and Community Center Nears Completion

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Montgomery County Memorial Library System is expected to open its new library at The Grogan’s Mill Village Center in The Woodlands later this year. The South Regional Library is moving from its facility at 2101 Lake Robbins Drive and will reopen at its new location in a new, revitalized building located in the Grogan’s Mill Village Center. Construction began in the summer of 2024 to redevelop the empty facility, formerly a grocery store and anchor for this popular retail area. This renovated space will now host both a modern-day library and a community center while reflecting the aesthetics of the nature of The Woodlands within the interior and exterior of the facility.

The new library has been named after Kevin Brady, a public servant who served in Congress for 26 years, the Texas House of Representatives, and who was a leader in The Woodlands/South Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. There he was involved in bond campaigns, including those for libraries. The renaming of the library recognizes his dedicated service at the local, state and national levels, including his leadership and support to his community in Montgomery County and The Woodlands.

The building will have ample shared space, yet will also offer definitive spaces for children, teens and adults in this innovative community library. It will continue to serve children, from babies to preteens, teens, adults, and senior citizens. Community members will be welcomed through a large entrance with high ceilings and a large, welcoming front desk where patrons may ask about library services and check out materials.

Children will have their own space with areas for reading, playing and learning. A large teen room will allow teens to have their own place at the library. There will also be built-in study pods. Overall, the open air concept of the library will create lots of space for interaction and community for adults as well.

This flagship library will also include a podcast room, complimented by maker technology for community needs. There will also be a 100-person theater-style classroom in this technologically advanced facility along with conference and board rooms, meeting rooms and halls on the community center side.

“This state-of-the art modern public library will be a welcoming community hub to all ages who want to explore, discover, learn, connect and innovate,” said MCMLS Library Director Dr. Janna Hoglund.

The design of the library will incorporate images and sculptures of the well-loved nature abundant in The Woodlands. Greens and browns with acoustical wood baffles, a bookshelf sculpted like a tree, and a mural featuring Lake Woodlands are some of the features that will tie in to the natural surroundings.

The designer of the project is PGAL, an international design firm with specialization in architecture, engineering, interiors and planning in public and private sectors with experience in contemporary libraries. The construction company is O’Donnell Snider Construction LLC, a Houston-based commercial builder whose many projects include a library in the Houston area and healthcare projects in The Woodlands. Howard Hughes collaborated with Montgomery County on this project and to revitalize Grogan’s Mill Village Center, the first village center developed in The Woodlands.

South Branch Library opened in 1976 and its first building was completed in 1978. It was destroyed by fire in 1992 and operated in a temporary space until the South Regional Library building opened in 1994. It will continue to serve more than 100,000 cardholders in the new building.

South Regional Library’s Branch Manager Cynthia Dieden said “We all are looking forward to continue to serve our community in a vibrant new building with updated options for our library patrons.”

Renderings courtesy of PGAL

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