Photo Update from Michael Clements 9/28

This past week was fairly quiet in comparison to previous weeks during this renovation. At times, we could almost forget that the building was undergoing construction at all! Nonetheless, a lot has been done behind-the-scenes and quite a lot of foundational work--elevator, ducts, plumbing, etc--has been accomplished.

We are also pleased to announce that in spite of the construction, the BC3 Library has seen its fair share of students over the past few weeks. We are very excited to see that despite our limited size and resources, BC3 students are still coming to the library to print papers, work on assignments, seek help with research, and check out books. 

We have done, and are doing, everything we can to meet students' needs despite the big changes to our space.

Photo Update from Michael Clements 9/21

The new entrance of the future Heaton Learning Commons is beginning to take real shape now. As the foundation for the steps and entryway is laid, we are finally able to get a real idea of what the new entrance to the BC3 library will be like.

With the current state of our building, it's hard to believe we will one day again be a library! For the time being, the space has been described to us as resembling a small parking garage or a giant picnic pavilion! 

What do you think of the current state of the former Beck Library? Can you picture the Heaton Learning Commons yet?

Photo Update from Michael Clements 9/14

Although there was not much to be seen of the change on the outside of the building this week, work continues within and big changes are still taking place on the interior. This week's photo update shows off many of the foundational changes in preparation of the construction of the new Heaton Learning Commons.

Photo Update from Michael Clements 9/8

Returning from our long Labor Day weekend, we are greeted by new photos from Michael Clements, documenting the construction and development from this past week. 

One of the biggest events for us here at the temporary library was the removal of the old elevator shaft: a very noisy project that involved a lot of sawing through concrete and tossing the cut concrete blocks into a shovel below! (If you weren't aware, the temporary library circulation desk is situated right next to the former elevator shaft.)

Another of the more noticeable changes for staff members is that we've had both temporary air conditioners and temporary heaters installed throughout the condensed library space. Though it may take a bit of getting used to, we hope to be able to maintain comfortable temperatures for our staff and students during the coming months.

Here is a glimpse into some of the other major changes that have occurred in the past week:

Photo Update from Michael Clements 8/31

Work continues on the Heaton Learning Commons project, making for a noisy first week of classes for new students on campus. Nonetheless, the library has seen an unexpectedly high number of students who are unafraid to cross our dubious-looking doorstep! Computer lab 114 saw a steady stream of students filtering in and out during the week and students are already beginning to find their way around the condensed temporary library. While we hope for the construction sounds to quiet down as the project continues, the noise has by no means deterred students seeking to print papers, make copies, and reference reserve textbooks. Though we cannot provide a quiet study area at this current time, we are still offering all that we can to students and faculty and are very excited to see our efforts being put to good use.

Below are Michael Clements' most recent photos of the work from this past week.

Photo Update from Michael Clements 8/24

Michael Clements, Project Engineer on the Heaton Learning Commons Project, has provided us with some wonderful 'behind-the-scenes' photos of the construction so far. As the project continues, we have been informed that we will receive weekly updates, containing similar progress photos that
document the work being done from a much closer perspective than we can ourselves achieve.

Work is still progressing at a steady pace, and though there is much still to be done, it already seems that a lot has taken place in the space around us!

EDIT: Updated as of 8/17 to include photos previously lost during the email outage.

A Hole in the Wall

As I'm sure you must have heard (you can hear it the whole way across campus!), there has been some major work going on here at the library, cutting through walls that will eventually be replaced with glass windows in the Heaton Family Learning Commons.

 

At the moment, the vacated library has the look of something vaguely sinister...but things are proceeding rapidly and there's no telling what the next day may bring. It's especially loud here as the most dramatic of the demolition work continues, but we hope that the worst of the noise will be over soon.