The Orange County Library System is getting excited for the new Horizon West branch, as the construction progresses.
The Orange County Library System recently updated the community on the Horizon West branch by saying the “building is looking great, but we’re not open just yet.”
Horizon West Branch, located at 4657 Hamlin Groves Trail, Winter Garden, Florida, is part of a future 11-acre campus that will feature the 20,000 square-foot library and outdoor spaces, including an outdoor performance area.
The new library location has come a long way since local leaders and community members gathered at Horizon West Regional Park on November 13, 2024 for the first ceremonial shovels of dirt turned for the groundbreaking. Original updates back then stated the library construction was scheduled for completion in late 2025 by H.J. High Construction Company.
In 2024, the Horizon West project budget was approved. Chief of Neighborhood Services Danielle King presented the Guaranteed Maximum Price and Project Budget for the Horizon West construction to the Orange County Library System Board of Trustees. She stated that due diligence was done to assess whether the figures are indeed in line with similar projects. A brief discussion ensued regarding the budget and the project. Vice President Benjamin, seconded by Trustee Cisneros Mejia, moved to approve the Guaranteed Maximum Price with H.J. High Construction Company at an estimated cost of $18,300,000, to approve the Horizon West Branch Construction Budget of $27,275,000, and to authorize the Director/CEO to execute the Guaranteed Maximum Price contract with H.J. High Construction Company. Motion carried 4-0.
In 2025, Orange County received renderings from architect Borrelli + Partners that provided an idea of what the interior of the Horizon West Branch will look like when it is finished. Now it looks like the completion is getting close.
“We will announce an opening date as soon as we have one scheduled. In the meantime, please be patient and avoid visiting the site — it’s still a construction zone and we aren’t quite ready for visitors yet,” the Orange County Library System posted.
