Facility construction to expand education

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The $50 million library project is slated to be completed on time.
Renovation and expansion of the Charles V. Park Library should be completed by January 2002, said Dean of Libraries Thomas Moore.
“This is a really exciting story to tell, not simply about a building,” he said Thursday during a library tour. “It’s about innovative education.”
The combined technological and print features of the 306,988-square-foot building, will aid in faculty research and help contribute to an effective learning environment for students, he said.
The new building will feature 2,5000 network connections and more than 400 public computer workstations.
“We see this building as a tool … it will provide a high-quality education to our students,” Moore said. “We want to make sure students learn what they should be learning for their careers.”
The original 187,747-square-foot library was built in 1969 and was designed to hold 515,000 volumes.
“Now it’s out of date,” Moore said of the first library. “It was too small. We needed a more sophisticated infrastructure and capabilities on campus for a more effective learning environment.”
Groundbreaking began April 21, 1999, and construction officially started in June 1999.
Approved funding for the project totaled $50 million, $37.5 million coming from the state of Michigan and $12.5 from CMU.
The library is being expanded by 64 percent.
“We’re packing in features not possible with the old building,” Moore said.
The entire old building was gutted and rebuilt. Only the roof, external walls and fire stairs will remain after construction is complete.
“Everything in the old building will be taken out,” Moore said.
There are two renovation phases.
Phase one involves building an addition, gutting the entire third and fourth floors of the building and parts of the first and second floors. This stage should be completed by the end of February 2001.
During phase two, the services now offered in the old library will be moved to the new areas and the remainder of the building will be renovated.
“When it’s all done it will be a completely new facility,” Moore said.
The architects of the project are URS Greiner Woodward Clyde, Inc. and Woolen, Molzan and Partners.
“We have a successful development team; a great relationship with the university and contractors. We’ve had terrific support from the contractors who have been working with us,” Moore said.
The first floor will have two main entrances, at the south and north end of the building.
The university library and Clarke Historical Library will be on the first floor across the hall from each other.
The university library will carry general library and research materials, and the historical library will house materials that focus on the history of Michigan, CMU and the old Northwest Territory.
“We’re enthusiastic about the display of the books and manuscripts from the Clarke Historical Library against the other high-tech features of the building,” Moore said.
“One interesting facet of the appearance is the atrium, which will be an open area all the way up to the roof.”
A security system will be installed, as well.
“We have a $100 million-dollar collection, so we’re concerned with security,” Moore said.
A 144-seat auditorium, a cafe