Colorado State University Morgan Library Renovation

501, University Avenue, Fort Collins, CO, United States

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Colorado State University Morgan Library Renovation

501, University Avenue, Fort Collins, CO, United States

Firm

studiotrope

Type

Educational › Elementary School University Library
Industrial › Research Facility

YEAR

2012

BUDGET

$10M - 50M

CSU Morgan Library is currently undergoing a 2-story 13,000 square-foot addition at the north entrance and an extensive renovation of the first floor designed to provide more seating, computing and study space. Construction of a Learning Commons will enable students to utilize support services in a technology intensive environment.Centrally located on campus the Morgan Library has the opportunity to be a study beacon, inducing activity and heavy use, attracting and expanding the interests of both individual scholarly pursuit and shared knowledge via group study. The existing entry sequence is currently intimidating and difficult to navigate, discouraging many students and faculty from using or even entering the facility. The new addition must respect its location at the center of campus and imbue a revived presence, an approachable entry, and an indoor/outdoor connection. The architecture must showcase sustainability and efficiency, order and simplicity. The primary use adjacent to the entry must be iconic and representative of the new academic paradigm, that of serendipitous knowledge. Coined the "Energy Chamber," this primary space will be an aesthetically impressive, iconic study venue that gives students and faculty a strong sense of connectivity to each other and to the CSU campus.