A view from the southeast of today's 350,000-volume Warren Library featuring the historic Lassiter Rotunda (left).

Keeping to its mission statement -- to be "the central learning space for the Palm Beach Atlantic community" -- the space occupied by the current PBA/Warren Library has been its home since the founding of the institution as Palm Beach Atlantic College in 1968. 

The library's distinct rotunda began as the the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in 1932 after the great 1928 hurricane leveled most of West Palm Beach.

It was originally named after E. C. Blomeyer, who at one time served as chairman of the board ofthat is now the GTE corporation. Out of a respect for Dr. Jess Moody, pastor of First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach and founder of PBA, Mrs. Blomeyer donated $80,000 in the memory of her husband for the purchase of books for the new college, and $80,000 annually for additional resources for a number of years thereafter.Since the founding, the Theater Department and the Library (and for some years, the Music Department) have shared what was originally First Baptist Church, and in 1968 comprised nearly the entire campus.

Other Historic Resources Bebe and Don Warren at the library groundbreaking. New library construction timeline  Warren Tribute video Library Dedication video Library Dedication photos Press releases Press release (Lassiter) Lassiter Dedication Program

The octagon (sanctuary) and the rectangular structure (education wing) were rebuilt after the 1928 hurricane leveled much of the city of West Palm Beach. A group of enterprising men in the church seized the opportunity to construct a permanent building for the congregation.

Lacking money but possessing zeal and a strong faith in God, the builders erected the edifice using 300,000 Georgia clay bricks obtained by buying a local brick kiln and dismantling it, plus bricks gathered from nearby buildings damaged or destroyed by the hurricane, buildings which included a saloon and a bootlegger’s establishment.

Having been repaired, remodeled and refurbished many times across the years, by the turn of the new millennium it was clearly time for a a new, modern library to become the academic focal point of the Universit.

Click for more views of the Warren Library

With the help, guidance and inspiration of longtime PBA supporters Dr. Donald E. and Bebe Warren, the University undertook the $25 million project in two phases. Phase I was the demolition of the old library and the construction of a new, four-story, state-of-the-art center for learning. That phase of the construction was completed and the new Warren Library was dedicated on January 26, 2007.

The rebuilt rotunda section of library was named for longtime University supporters William G. Lassiter Jr. and his wife, Aneice. The University's student center, the first campus' first new structure built in 1983, is named for Lassiter, a longtime real estate developer.

The $12 million renovation of the historic octagonal building provides additional seating, study rooms, conference rooms and shelving for the library's collection.

The Weitz Company, the contractor for the Warren Library, has renewed the grandeur of the 1932 structure. A new, steel roof-frame was assembled on the ground and set in place atop the structure by a crane. Crowning the building, a cupola rises 73 feet above ground.

A number of other features distinguish the Lassiter Rotunda, including stained glass windows (example above) designed by McMow Art Glass of Lake Worth.

The interior of the Lassiter Rotunda.

Watch video of the capping of the Lassiter Rotunda with commentary by Dr. Don Warren.