Discovery PLAYce Construction Progress
Follow along with the progress as Beloit Public Library and its Foundation build Discovery PLAYce—a transformative, 6,000-square-foot early childhood learning lab designed to support children ages 0–6 and their caregivers. Phase I construction began in July 2025 and will conclude in March 2026. Phase II is set to begin shortly thereafter and be complete by Fall 2026.
Images from December 6, 2025
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Laundry, storage, and maintenance area for Discovery PLAYce Learning Play Stations and consumables. PAST: Miscellaneous storage.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Upstairs Reception Area. PAST: Upstairs hallway and closet.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Upstairs Reception Area. PAST: Upstairs hallway and closet.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
Phase I Construction Second Floor
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of two new single-stall restrooms. PAST: Storage.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of two new single-stall restrooms. PAST: Storage.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Two single-stall restrooms and the far upstairs hallway looking toward the welcome area. PAST: Upstairs hallway.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Two classrooms ahead looking down the hallway toward the reception desk on the right and toward two additional classrooms down the hallway toward the left. PAST: Upstairs hallway and storage.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Two classrooms ahead looking down the hallway toward the right and two additional classrooms down the hallway toward the left. PAST: Upstairs hallway and storage.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Two classrooms ahead looking down the hallway toward the reception desk on the right and toward two additional classrooms down the hallway toward the left. PAST: Upstairs hallway and storage.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The new computer lab. PAST: The former teen gathering area.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The area where periodicals, study rooms, and the computer lab were previously located, with Classroom 114 in the background.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The near side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The old computer lab.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The near side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The old computer lab with the former study rooms in the background.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: New Family Telehealth Room. PAST: Part of the former Classroom 110.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: New Program Room “The Engine Room.” PAST: Part of the former Classroom 114.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: New Program Room storage. PAST: Part of the former Classroom 114.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: One of two new family restrooms. PAST: Part of the old storage room for programming and Blender Café.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: One of two new family restrooms. PAST: Part of the old storage room for programming and Blender Café.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: A new Sensory Room. PAST: Part of the former Classroom 114.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Updated Program Room that will include a Discovery PLAYce office, full-size refrigerator, and dedicated storage closet. PAST: Program Room.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Discovery PLAYce office in the front corner of the Program Room. PAST: Program Room.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Updated Program Room that will include a Discovery PLAYce office, full-size refrigerator, and dedicated storage closet. PAST: Program Room.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Updated Program Room that will include a Discovery PLAYce office, full-size refrigerator, and dedicated storage closet. PAST: Program Room.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Updated Program Room that will include a Discovery PLAYce office, full-size refrigerator, and dedicated storage closet. PAST: Program Room.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Program storage. PAST: Part of Classroom 110.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Updated Program Room that will include a Discovery PLAYce office, full-size refrigerator, and dedicated storage closet. PAST: Program Room.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The family bathrooms and hallway that will connect Discovery PLAYce with the new Children’s Area. PAST: The old storage room for programming and Blender Café.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The new Children’s Area, looking toward the Family Telehealth Room. PAST: The former Classroom 110, Classroom 111, GED Testing Room, BTC Office, and Collaboration Area.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The new Children’s Area, looking toward the Read-to-Me Nook and Family Telehealth Room. PAST: The former Classroom 110, Classroom 111, GED Testing Room, BTC Office, and Collaboration Area.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The new Children’s Area, looking toward the Family Telehealth Room, Family Bathrooms, and hallway into Discovery PLAYce. PAST: The former Classroom 110, Classroom 111, GED Testing Room, BTC Office, Collaboration Area, and Computer Lab.
Images from November 19, 2025
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Family Telehealth Room in the foreground and Programming Storage in the background. PAST: The former Classroom 110 and Collaboration Area.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Programming storage. PAST: The former Classroom 110 and Collaboration Area.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The new Children’s Area, looking toward the Family Telehealth Room, Family Bathrooms, and hallway into Discovery PLAYce. PAST: The former Classroom 110, Classroom 111, GED Testing Room, BTC Office, Collaboration Area, and Computer Lab.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The new Children’s Area, looking toward the new Sensory Room and Program Room. PAST: The former Computer Lab and Study Rooms.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The new Children’s Area, looking toward the Read-to-Me Nook and Family Telehealth Room. PAST: The former Classroom 110, Classroom 111, GED Testing Room, BTC Office, and Collaboration Area.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The old collaboration area looking toward the area where periodicals, genealogy, study rooms, computer lab, and collaboration area were previously located.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: A new Program Room. PAST: Part of the former Classroom 114.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Storage for the new Program Room. PAST: Part of the former Classroom 114.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Laundry, storage, and maintenance area for Discovery PLAYce Learning Play Stations and consumables. PAST: Miscellaneous storage.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of two new single-stall restrooms. PAST: Storage.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of two new single-stall restrooms. PAST: Storage.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Two single-stall restrooms and the far upstairs hallway looking toward the welcome area. PAST: Upstairs hallway.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Two classrooms ahead looking down the hallway toward the reception desk on the right and toward two additional classrooms down the hallway toward the left. PAST: Upstairs hallway and storage.
Phase I Construction
A crane prepares to lift a new HVAC system onto the roof.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The area where periodicals, study rooms, and the computer lab were previously located, with Classroom 114 in the background.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The near side of what will be the new Children’s Area on the left and FABL Book Shelves on the right. PAST: The old computer lab with the former study rooms in the background.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: A new Sensory Room. PAST: Part of the former Classroom 114.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The near side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The old computer lab with the former study rooms in the background.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: One of two new Family Bathrooms in the hallway that will connect the new Children’s Area with Discovery PLAYce. PAST: The old storage room for programming and Blender Café.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: One of two new Family Bathrooms in the hallway that will connect the new Children’s Area with Discovery PLAYce. PAST: The old storage room for programming and Blender Café.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The new Children’s Area, looking toward the Read-to-Me Nook and Family Telehealth Room. PAST: The former Classroom 110, Classroom 111, GED Testing Room, BTC Office, and Collaboration Area.
Images from November 5, 2025
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Two single-stall restrooms and the fair upstairs hallway looking toward the welcome area. PAST: Upstairs hallway.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The area where periodicals, study rooms, and the computer lab were previously located, with Classroom 114 in the background.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The new Children’s Area, looking toward the Read-to-Me Nook and Family Telehealth Room. PAST: The former Classroom 110, Classroom 111, GED Testing Room, BTC Office, and Collaboration Area.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: This space will be transformed into three: Program Room, Storage, and a Sensory Room. PAST: The former Classroom 114.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Family telehealth room in the foreground and storage in the background. The former Classroom 110 and Collaboration Area.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The family bathrooms in the hallway that will connect the new Children’s Area with Discovery PLAYce. PAST: The old storage room for programming and Blender Café.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The family bathrooms in the hallway that will connect the new Children’s Area with Discovery PLAYce. PAST: The old storage room for programming and Blender Café.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The family bathrooms and hallway that will connect the new Children’s Area with Discovery PLAYce. PAST: The old storage room for programming and Blender Café.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The new Children’s Area, looking toward the Read-to-Me Nook and Family Telehealth Room. PAST: The former Classroom 110, Classroom 111, GED Testing Room, BTC Office, and Collaboration Area.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The old collaboration area looking toward the area where periodicals, genealogy, study rooms, computer lab, and collaboration area were previously located.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The new Children’s Area, looking toward the Read-to-Me Nook and Family Telehealth Room. PAST: The former Classroom 110, Classroom 111, GED Testing Room, BTC Office, and Collaboration Area.
Images from October 7, 2025
Phase I Construction Exterior
FUTURE: New windows looking on the west and south exposures. PAST: Solid brick walls.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Two classrooms, looking west down the hallway toward four classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space and hallway.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Two classrooms, looking west down the hallway toward four classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space and hallway.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Two single-stall restrooms and the fair upstairs hallway looking toward the welcome area. PAST: Upstairs hallway.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Hallway looking north with four new classrooms–two on each side–and storage. PAST: Unfinished storage space and hallway to mechanicals.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: One of six new classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The area where periodicals, study rooms, and the computer lab were previously located, with Classroom 114 in the background.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The new Children’s Area, looking toward the Read-to-Me Nook and Family Telehealth Room. PAST: The former Classroom 110, Classroom 111, GED Testing Room, BTC Office, and Collaboration Area.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: This space will be transformed into three: Program Room, Storage, and a Sensory Room. PAST: The former Classroom 114.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The family bathrooms and hallway that will connect the new Children’s Area with Discovery PLAYce. PAST: The old storage room for programming and Blender Café.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The new Children’s Area, looking toward the Read-to-Me Nook and Family Telehealth Room. PAST: The former Classroom 110, Classroom 111, GED Testing Room, BTC Office, and Collaboration Area.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Laundry, storage, and maintenance area for Discovery PLAYce Learning Play Stations and consumables. PAST: Miscellaneous storage.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The old collaboration area looking toward the area where periodicals, genealogy, study rooms, computer lab, and collaboration area were previously located.
Images from September 13, 2025
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Two single-stall restrooms and the fair upstairs hallway looking toward the welcome area. PAST: Upstairs hallway.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The area where periodicals, genealogy, study rooms, computer lab, and collaboration area were previously located.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Four upstairs classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Four upstairs classrooms looking from the far southwest corner. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The family bathrooms and hallway that will connect the new Children’s Area with Discovery PLAYce. PAST: The old storage room for programming and Blender Café.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The area where periodicals, study rooms, and the computer lab were previously located, with Classroom 114 in the background.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Four upstairs classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: This space will be transformed into three: Program Room, Storage, and a Sensory Room. PAST: The former Classroom 114.
Phase I Construction Second Floor
FUTURE: Two classrooms, looking west down the hallway toward four classrooms. PAST: Unfinished storage space and hallway.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The old collaboration area looking toward the area where periodicals, genealogy, study rooms, computer lab, and collaboration area were previously located.
Images from September 4, 2025
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area, looking down the hallway at Discovery PLAYce with the new Sensory Room and Program Room to the right. PAST: The area where periodicals, genealogy, study rooms, computer lab, and collaboration areas were previously located.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The old collaboration area looking toward the area where periodicals, genealogy, study rooms, computer lab, and collaboration area were previously located.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The area where periodicals, study rooms, and the computer lab were previously located, with Classroom 114 in the background.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the Early Reader “Read to Me” Den, family telehealth room, and expanded programming storage in the new Children’s Area. PAST: The area where periodicals, and genealogy were previously located, with Classrooms 110 and 111 in the background.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The family bathrooms and hallway that will connect the new Children’s Area with Discovery PLAYce. PAST: The old storage room for programming and Blender Café.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The area where periodicals, genealogy, study rooms, computer lab, and collaboration area were previously located.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Laundry, storage, and maintenance area for Discovery PLAYce Learning Play Stations and consumables. PAST: Miscellaneous storage.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The area where periodicals, study rooms, and the computer lab were previously located, with Classroom 114 in the background.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The area where periodicals, study rooms, and the computer lab were previously located, with Classroom 114 in the background.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: This space will be transformed into three: Program Room, Storage, and a Sensory Room. PAST: The former Classroom 114.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Laundry, storage, and maintenance area for Discovery PLAYce Learning Play Stations and consumables. PAST: Miscellaneous storage.
Images from August 23, 2025
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The area where magazines, newspapers, and genealogy were previously located, with study rooms behind.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The area where magazines, newspapers, and genealogy were previously located, with study rooms behind.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The far side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The former collaboration area just outside of Classrooms 110 and 111.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: Laundry, storage, and maintenance area for Discovery PLAYce Learning Play Stations and consumables. PAST: Miscellaneous storage.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The near side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: One of the collaboration areas behind the computer lab.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The near side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The old computer lab with the former study rooms in the background.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: This space will be transformed into three: Program Room, Storage, and a Sensory Room. PAST: The former Classroom 114.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The near side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The old computer lab with the former Classroom 114 in the background.
Phase I Construction First Floor
FUTURE: The near side of what will be the new Children’s Area. PAST: The old computer lab with the former Classroom 114 in the background.