In 2025 and 2026, Hodge Floors was honored to be part of a major renovation at the Spartanburg County Public Libraries Headquarters, a cornerstone institution that has long served as a place for learning, discovery, and connection in the Upstate.
Working directly with Spartanburg County Public Libraries, our team completed flooring renovations across three existing levels of the Headquarters Library, helping modernize interior spaces, all while preserving the welcoming environment the community knows and values.
In addition to the main library renovations, new flooring was installed within the Planetarium Learning Center, led by Harper General Contractors, one of our valued project partners, with design by local designer Martha Chapman, of Martha Chapman Design. Together, these updates expand educational opportunities for residents of all ages while ensuring the facility continues to evolve alongside Spartanburg’s growing community.
We sat down with Todd Stephens, County Librarian, to hear about some of the stories behind the Spartanburg County Library and the renovation that has taken place, in the heart of our city.
A Community Anchor, Reimagined
Libraries today are more than shelves of books. They are gathering places, technology hubs, and learning environments that support curiosity at every stage of life. The Headquarters Library plays a unique role in Spartanburg County, welcoming students, families, educators, and lifelong learners each day.
When the headquarters building first opened in 1997, its goal was to bring energy and activity to a downtown Spartanburg that was still finding its footing. Located along a major bus line and positioned at the gateway into the city, the library helped anchor new life in the downtown district.
For Stephens, that mission has always been about more than just a building. “My vision as a kid from Spartanburg was simply this: how do I make Spartanburg better?” That vision has guided the evolution of the library for decades.
Expanding Learning Through Science and Exploration
One of the most exciting additions to the campus is the new Planetarium Learning Center. Designed to spark interest in science, space, and exploration, the planetarium offers immersive experiences that complement the library’s existing educational programming.
Since opening, the response from the community has been overwhelming, with over 15,000 visitors already attending shows and events. The Planetarium has quickly become one of the most talked-about new attractions in Spartanburg, offering residents the chance to experience cutting-edge educational programming close to home.
Perhaps most importantly, it helps make science accessible to everyone.
Families who might otherwise have to travel or pay significant admission fees elsewhere can now experience high-quality planetarium programming right here in Spartanburg, reinforcing the library’s role as a place where learning remains open to all.
Honoring Creativity: The Kitty Black Perkins Maker Lab
Designed to inspire the next generation of creators, the Kitty Black Perkins Maker Lab, is named for Spartanburg native Kitty Black Perkins.
Perkins, who grew up just blocks from the library and graduated from Carver High School, went on to become an internationally recognized fashion designer. After moving to Los Angeles, she studied fashion design at Los Angeles Trade Technical College and soon began building a career that would eventually take her to Mattel. She is best known for designing the first Black Barbie doll in 1980, but her work extended far beyond that milestone.
Years later, County Librarian Todd Stephens wrote Perkins a letter introducing himself and later traveled to Los Angeles to meet with her in person in her home. Through that relationship, Perkins has generously shared many of her designs, stories, personal artifacts, and career milestones with the Spartanburg County Library system, including the prestigious Golden Thimble award she received early in her career.
With her story now preserved and celebrated inside the library through the Maker Lab, the collection offers visitors a remarkable look at the journey of a Spartanburg native whose creativity shaped fashion, culture, and generations of imagination. County Librarian Todd Stephens spoke with pride about Perkins’ connection to Spartanburg and the importance of sharing her story with future generations.
“Kitty Black Perkins is Spartanburg’s kid. She graduated from Carver High School right here and went on to design the first Black Barbie. People don’t always realize that someone who had that kind of global impact started right here in this community. That’s exactly the kind of story we want young people to discover when they walk into this space.”
The Maker Lab reflects the same spirit that defined Perkins’ own journey; creativity, curiosity, and the belief that great ideas can begin anywhere, including right here in Spartanburg.
Scope of the Renovation
This renovation focused on updating interior spaces to better support modern use while maintaining the welcoming feel the community expects. Work included replacement flooring throughout three levels of the existing building and new flooring within the newly added Planetarium Learning Center, admin spaces and the Makers Lab.
Completing work inside an active public building required careful coordination between the library team and Hodge Floors. Installation crews worked around patrons, service desks, and daily programming to keep the facility open and accessible throughout the renovation.
County Librarian Todd Stephens described the process simply: “It was a ballet.”
For Jon Wilkins, General Manager at Hodge Floors, that level of coordination required careful planning from start to finish.
“Working in an active public space like the library meant our team had to plan every phase carefully. The goal was to keep the building welcoming and accessible while the renovation moved forward.”
Because libraries are high-traffic, multi-use environments, flooring selections must balance durability, safety, acoustics, and visual appeal. Milliken carpet tile with a cushion-back system was selected to enhance noise reduction and underfoot comfort, both critical considerations in an active library environment.
The goal was to create surfaces that hold up to daily use while supporting a calm, accessible, and inviting atmosphere for visitors.
A Continued Commitment to Public Spaces
Hodge Floors has had the opportunity to work with Spartanburg County Public Libraries on past projects over the years. Being selected again for their most notable and most recent renovations reflects a continued partnership built on trust and a shared commitment to maintaining high-quality public facilities. Collaboration with trusted partners like Harper General Contractors, helped ensure consistency and quality across multiple phases of work.
As Stephens noted during the renovation, projects like this often reflect the pride and cooperation found within a community. “When you work with local companies, there’s a sense of pride on both sides,” Stephens shared. “We’re advancing each other.”
Designing for Learning and Longevity
Public projects carry a unique responsibility since these are spaces built for the community, and every decision made inside them affects thousands of residents.
Flooring must support everything from quiet study and children’s programming to large groups moving through the building each day. In environments like libraries and planetariums, materials also play a role in comfort, sound control, and overall experience. Great flooring systems contribute to quieter spaces, supporting both focused study and group learning environments.
This project was approached with longevity in mind, working alongside project stakeholders to select flooring solutions that support the library’s mission now and well into the future.
A Space for the Future of Spartanburg
As Spartanburg County continues to invest in education and community infrastructure, the Headquarters Library stands as a reminder of how places like this can spark lasting change. When the building first opened, it helped bring new energy to a struggling downtown, becoming what County Librarian Todd Stephens describes as “one of the first dominoes” in a series of decisions and investments that helped shape the thriving Spartanburg we see today.
The renovated facility, the Planetarium Learning Center, and the Kitty Black Perkins Maker Lab all represent different ways the library continues to grow alongside the community it serves.
For residents of Spartanburg County, the library remains what it has always been; a place to learn, gather, explore, and imagine what comes next.
For County Librarian Todd Stephens, the goal has always been larger than any one project.
“My vision was never just to build a planetarium or renovate a building,” Stephens said. “My vision has always been to make Spartanburg better. When people walk through these doors, I hope they feel like this is their place to learn, explore, and discover what’s possible.”
Hodge Floors is proud to have contributed to a project that supports curiosity, education, and connection in the Spartanburg community, and we look forward to seeing these spaces enjoyed for years to come.
