Committeewoman Cara Jensen

Emerson has stepped forward to make the lead gift in the St. Louis Public Library Foundation’s capital campaign for the $74 million overhaul of the Cass Gilbert-designed Central Library downtown.

Emerson’s $4 million gift is the largest the St. Louis Public Library has ever received. The previous largest gift came from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who donated $1 million in 1906 to build the Central Library.

Emerson announced its donation Thursday at a news conference at the Central Library, 1301 Olive St. The appliance and electronics manufacturer is the largest public company in St. Louis with $20.9 billion in sales in 2009 and 2,400 local employees.

Emerson’s gift will fund a new entrance and atrium facing Locust Street on the library’s north side. The library’s current entrance, on Olive Street, will be used for groups accessing a newly designed children’s area.

Construction is set to begin by June and will be completed by 2012, the library’s centennial. The renovation will include new mechanical and HVAC systems, a seismic upgrade, a 250-seat lower-level auditorium and a café. BSI is the construction manager, and Cannon Design is architect.

“The St. Louis Public Library is one of our city’s most treasured and valuable assets, and the restoration and modernization of its Central Library is essential to the library’s continued success and service to our community,” Emerson Chairman, Chief Executive and President David Farr said in a statement.

Waller McGuire, executive director of the St. Louis Public Library, said Farr toured the library in recent weeks and viewed construction plans. “Theirs is a transformational gift, and I think they have a great deal of respect for understanding the importance of the project on the community,” McGuire said.

The Central Library will be closed during the two-year construction period. A satellite location of the library located in the Old Post Office at 815 Olive St. will accommodate downtown library users. Some unique library materials will be moved to a library-owned building at Locust and 18th streets and will be accessible to researchers.

Alison Ferring and Tom Schlafly are the capital campaign co-chairs, and Rick Simoncelli is the foundation’s president. Since the capital campaign launched last fall, $7.6 million in pledges from private donors have been made toward the $20 million goal. Simoncelli said he expects the capital campaign to run concurrently with construction.

In addition to private and corporate donations, the library is getting public support for the project. In late 2009, the Missouri Development Finance Board approved $3 million in tax credits through the state’s Tax Credit for Contribution Program. The tax credit equals 50 percent of money contributed by taxpayers for the project. McGuire said Emerson opted not to receive the tax credits so they can be used to attract other donors.

The St. Louis Public Library also is in talks with city officials about a more than $40 million bond issue to fund construction. Library officials were set to go before the city’s Industrial Development Authority on Thursday for the bond request.