about the library: building renovation news.

Renovation Update

Special Notice: Status of Library collections during renovation
Renovation Timeline: See timeline details below

May 6, 2008

Future first floor service desk
Future first floor service desk.

Individual Study Rooms
Individual Study Rooms.

Let there be light! The permanent lights for first floor won't be in until mid-June, but temporary construction lights are up in the archives area so movers can see where they're going. As for the archives collection, it is, unfortunately, still on the third floor at the moment. It's the nature of the construction beast - unexpected issues like to arise out of nowhere. However, our building workers have not been idle. They've been preparing the second floor for the next phase of renovation. They're shifting part of the reference section north to make way for the SCOLA language center, which will be moved east for the next stage of renovations.

Downstairs, the seven individual study rooms are drywalled, painted, and just awaiting doors, lights, and electrical fixtures. In fact, drywalling and painting are underway throughout the first floor. The ceiling grid is going up this week, and the week of the 19th, painting should be completed and installation will begin for all the ceiling clouds. A temporary wall has been built on the front (south) side of the first floor, and new storefront windows are being installed.

Finally, what everyone's really interested in: when is it going to be cooler in here? The estimate time is Friday. However, all three floors of the Kahn Addition are cool, and the garden area (accessible through the first floor addition) is open. If you need to use a computer, laptops are available at the circulation desk for three hour checkouts. Fans are still blowing cool air from the addition to the rest of the building. We are very sorry for the inconvenience and wish the students the best of luck on final papers, projects and exams.


April 30, 2008

Image of floor markings that indicate the boundaries of the new group study areas.
Archives walkway.

Image of framing supplies awaiting framing the framing crew
Cutting in the door

Spring cleaning is here! And it is starting in the future first floor archives area. Cleaning crews will be in April 30 to ensure the archives area is spotless before the collection moves in. The shelving contractors will also be in on the 30th to finish up their work on the shelf controls. Thursday and Friday the archive filing cabinets will be moved downstairs, immediately followed by the entire archives collection.

May will be a busy month downstairs. Keystone Glass, who is currently installing windows in the study rooms, will start ripping out the front windows and replacing them. The piping for the heating and air conditioning will be tested on May 9th. The tunnels will be cleaned next week to remove any debris that could get sucked into the air system. On the 12th, Custom Trim will start the wood casework. On the 15th, carpet installation will begin, followed by tile installation on the 19th. It's all coming together!


April 23, 2008

Image of floor markings that indicate the boundaries of the new group study areas.
First Floor Service Desk "cloud".

Image of framing supplies awaiting framing the framing crew
Main entry to the first floor

We're sorry it's so hot, hot, hot! We're doing everything we can to lower the temperature in the library. A 25-ton air conditioning unit is pumping air from outside all the way up an old staircase to the third floor. This, along with the open roof hatch letting the warm air out, should help circulate some fresh air and cool things down a bit until the air handlers are up and running (hopefully by the end of the week). With Prep Week and Finals Week coming up, we know that students really need a comfortable study environment, and we are doing everything we can to provide one.

As for first floor news, door frames are going in for the archives area. The exterior walls of several of the group study rooms have been painted. The vents for the whole floor are very nearly completed. More work is being done on the ceiling clouds, like the one over the future first floor reference desk. Finally, the remainder of the first floor lights will be delivered around June 15th, and will require one to two weeks of installation.


April 15, 2008

Equalization wall vent.
Equalization Wall Vent.

First floor wire chase.
First Floor wire chase.

They're revving up the engines downstairs - working hard to stay on schedule, so the new and improved Criss Library will be fully operational. They are also doing all they can to keep the second and third floors cool. The coils for heating and air conditioning have been installed in the columns, and fans are feverishly blowing cool air up the columns through these coils - unfortunately, heat rises, making their battle difficult. In two weeks, the permanent air handlers will be installed and operational. These fans are designed to move air, sucking air from both outside and inside (how much of each depends on the temperature), to keep air circulating and cool or heat the building. Work on the archives room is underway. The walls have been painted beige and steps have been taken to ensure the collection's protection. These include: installing card readers for collection access, and the installation of VAV (variable air volume) units. These devices allow greater control of the room's environment, protecting the more fragile materials in the collection.

Preparations are now underway for the next phase of renovation - the western portions of the second and third floors. On May 1st, the archives collection will move to the first floor, followed by the Afghanistan collection and government documents. When the first floor is fully complete, about half of the monographs (books) will move downstairs, as will most - if not all - of the public computers. A few subtle changes have occured - the map cases are now by the copy center and the vending machines are on the eastern wall, where the atlas cases will move to that general location as well (outside of room 219A). When the time comes, there will be a partition wall built to section off the construction area on these floors. The SCOLA television monitors will be mounted to this wall, and a viewing/seating area will be nearby.

The next few weeks and months will bring a great deal of changing and rearranging throughout the library. While it may cause some hassles, the finished product will be well worth the efforts. And remember, library staff is always happy to help you in any way.


April 8, 2008

Equalization wall vent.
Equalization Wall Vent.

First floor wire chase.
First Floor wire chase.

Work on the archives room is underway. The walls have been painted beige and steps have been taken to ensure the collection's protection. These include: installing card readers for collection access, and the installation of VAV (variable air volume) units. These devices allow greater control of the room's environment, protecting the more fragile materials in the collection.

Speaking of temperature control, all the valves and coils for the heating and air conditioning are on site. Keystone will be in this week to build the frames for the new windows. There is a big rush to finish up drywalling, so they can begin putting up the ceiling clouds once the materials arrive (which should be soon). They will also be drilling holes on the main floor in front of the administrative office in preparation for the office moves that will occur when the lower level nears completion.

Finally, the wire chase is up. This frame will house the wires connecting all the building's computers. It's far more complicated than this, but this is one piece of a much larger organism that allows you to print, surf the net, access the network, etc. The wire chase allows for ease of access when needed, while still being aesthetically pleasing.


April 1, 2008

Future home of the vending machines.
Future home of the vending machines.

Drywall is well underway in the Archives area.
Drywall is well underway in the Archives area.

As we roll into April, electricians are preparing the ceiling fixtures. Everything will then be ready for the lighting system when they arrive in the coming weeks. On May 1st, the archives collection will start its move down to its permanent home, which will take 5-7 working days.

Not only will the library's lower level house a plethora of materials, it will also provide an excellent learning and studying environment. In addition to group study rooms, classrooms, and plenty of open seating, the first floor renovations include seven individual study rooms. These rooms will be great when you really need a quiet area of your own to focus on studies. The vending machines will also be housed on the first floor -- in a private space separate from the open areas.

Is there a particular vending machine you'd like to see there when the first floor reopens? Share your suggestions on the Comments sheet located next to the north side of the main staircase.


March 19, 2008

New ceiling color to match new carpet.
Ceiling has been painted a dark blue to match the new carpet.

Walls being soundproofed
Drywall and insulation goes up for a group study room.

While we're hard at work, under our feet, first floor renovation chugs on - and a lot of it. The steel frames for all of the study rooms, classrooms, offices, and bathrooms are complete. Now workers are busy adding insulation and drywall, which they have completed on several of the group study rooms. The compact shelving on the west side of the building is complete and ready for electrical wiring. And another bit of good news - wiring for the whole floor is 80-85% complete, with some areas awaiting final inspections.

This week, workers will be using a core drill to make holes in the concrete for pipes, wiring, etc. to pass through. Also, air handlers, which will allow for greater temperature control throughout the building, are being readied for installation. The carpet colors have been selected, and the ceiling has been painted to match.


January 28, 2008

Image of floor markings that indicate the boundaries of the new group study areas.
Marks on the floor indicate the boundaries of new group study areas.

Image of framing supplies awaiting framing the framing crew
Metal parts and drywall await the framing crews

It's really starting to happen now. Drywall and metal stud wall components were delivered last week, and walls have started to go up. Some noise is inevitable. The construction barrier wall on the East side of the lower level will need to be partly removed. That means that ERIC microfiche cabinets will move from their current place in the corridor, to the East side of the periodicals room—near group study room 121. Access to the new addition East stairway will become "Emergency Exit Only" Paint samples for the ceiling will be applied to small areas of the ceiling sometime around the end of January. Exposed parts of the ceiling will be painted a very dark blue in order to give the illusion of a higher ceiling. Door frames will arrive by Februrary 14, just in time to be installed into the completed stud walls.

Please note: some parts of the government documents, archives and special collections will be begin the move to their new homes on the lower level as soon as the spaces are available—possibly as soon as March. The library staff will post any changes in location promptly. Work on the old elevator has been delayed due to a parts shortage. It should be available before the end of the Spring semester.


December 17, 2007

Image of the new archive shelving units as they near completion
Future home of the University Archives

Image of the new compact shelving units as they near completion
Bound journals and Government Documents will be shelved here

Moveable compact book stacks are nearly complete. Work will start in January on walls for the new study rooms, archival storage room, and special collections reading room. New lighting, electrical and networking will be added during the Spring semester. The initial meeting of the "1% for Art" committee is scheduled for December 19.


November 21, 2007

Image of shelf rails on new floor
New floor and rails in place.

Image of new moveable shelving units
Moveable bookstacks with end panels and controls

Work continues on the installation of compact bookstacks. They will be "self service" with advanced safety features that prevent aisles closing when occupied.

Renovation Timeline

Renovation to the library building will occur in a number of phases and is expected to be complete during UNO's Centennial year, 2008-09.

* Phase one of the renovation will be complete early in the summer of 2008. It will accomplish a repair and remodel the first floor of the library. The entirety of the original 1976 library lower floor will be closed until then. The first floor of the new addition, including (in season) the reader's garden, will remain open.

PHASE ONE OBJECTIVES:

  • Remove floor slab and 3 to 5 feet of underlying soil to correct problems with settling and leaks in the underground HVAC ducts.
  • Replace floor and install rail system for high-density compact bookshelves with capacity for 250,000 volumes.
  • Create new reading room and collection room for the University Archives, government documents, and the Arthur Paul Afghanistan collection.
  • Create two new computerized instruction rooms.
  • Provide additional computer lab space, group study rooms, individual study cabins, upgrade finishes and furnishings.
  • Reopen entire first floor in June, 2008.

* Phase two is estimated to take about seven months beginning in late May, 2008. During this time the East and West halves of 2nd and 3rd floors will be separated with a temporary construction wall. The West side of the building will be renovated first. The government documents, archives and Afghanistan collections will be moved to their permanent location on first floor. Books with call numbers P through Z will be temporarily relocated to the first floor. Books with call numbers A-L will be shifted to the East side of the library to clear the West side for remodeling. The reference and circulation desks, and all offices and services on the West side of 2nd floor will be moved to the East side. The open computing area will be moved to the 1st floor.

PHASE TWO OBJECTIVES:

  • Create new combined service desk for reference, circulation, reserve, interlibrary loan and general assistance.
  • New shelving area for reference books.
  • Provide six additional individual study cabins.
  • Consultation area for the writing center and future tutoring functions.
  • New shelving for 3rd floor book collection (West side).
  • Upgrade finishes and furniture, increase number of seats for students.
  • Provide office space for staff.

* Phase three will begin around December of 2008 and continue through the summer of 2009, when all renovations will be complete. Books with call numbers A-L will be moved to new shelving on 3rd floor to clear the East side for renovation. Library faculty and staff will move to new office spaces, and materials from the East side of 2nd floor will be temporarily shifted to the West side. Following all construction work, books with call numbers P-Z will be placed on new shelving on 3rd floor (East) and bound back-issues of all journals will be returned from storage and placed in the compact bookstacks.

PHASE THREE OBJECTIVES:

  • Create a second open computing area, increasing computer workstations from 80 to 120.
  • Add media viewing room and two additional computerized instruction rooms.
  • Create an enclosed gallery for exhibits.
  • Upgrade new book browsing area.
  • New shelving for 3rd floor book collection (East side).
  • Remodel restrooms.
  • Increase seating and study space.
  • Upgrade faculty study area to create a multifunction faculty club suite.

Project Funding
See the projected costs and learn how to contribute to the library building program.

Library Services Updates
Changes to Library services during construction.