This comprehensive expansion/renovation project doubled the size of the existing campus library. The existing facility consisted of a 1927 Campus Gothic structure with poorly integrated additions dating from 1951 and 1970. The library occupies a sensitive site in the center of the campus.
The site is bounded on the north by a campus green and several Gothic classroom buildings and to the east and west by several turn-of-the century Richardsonian Romanesque structures. The character of this portion of campus is established by smaller Romanesque buildings and the extensive use of native limestone. In addition to a lack of space, the existing library facility lacked legible internal organization. Externally, the original structure and the subsequent additions were a collection of disparate parts. The primary design challenges included: aesthetic unification of the original building and additions; Integration of the original structure, two previous additions and the present addition to produce a coherent internal circulation system; a major addition within an extremely limited available site area; relationship of the library to existing historical campus buildings; and continuous operation of library services during construction. This was completed in joint-venture with Hammond Beeby Rupert Ainge of Chicago.
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