On November 7, 1964, Johns Hopkins University officially opened its new flagship library building, named for the university’s then-president Milton S. Eisenhower.
The building was state-of-the-art—it even had a computer center on D Level!—but of course time and technology never stand still. Now, 61 years later, the Eisenhower Library is in the middle of its long-awaited renovation.
The MSE Library Modernization is an ambitious renovation and redesign of the 182,000-square-foot building. It includes overdue critical upgrades to comply with modern building, safety, and accessibility standards, plus some eye-catching new architectural features and purpose-driven spaces, which will reinvent the library as an inspiring and welcoming space for 21st-century learning and research.
Sixteen months into the construction phase of the project, here’s the latest progress to celebrate.
The visual highlight remains the glass-enclosed wishbone staircase, lit by a walkable, quad-level skylight that will allow natural daylight to penetrate into subterranean study spaces. It also serves a practical function during construction, as the staircase cut-through can be utilized to remove debris and deliver materials via crane.
Speaking of debris, D Level is where so much essential work is happening. The building’s mechanical room will be housed on D Level, and it is where the underground utilities from the city will connect. Though not the most glamorous or photogenic part of the process, making sure the building’s mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems work seamlessly are critically important to the function of such a high-use space.
But back to the fun stuff. The renovated MSE will still have two main exterior entrances: one from the Beach and one from Keyser Quad. When entering from the Beach, users will now walk in directly on M-Level, without the platform that once required users to descend a small flight of stairs to get from the entrance to M-Level.
On the new Q-Level will be a Graduate Student Commons and an Event Space that can host both internal gatherings, like meetings and workshops, and external convenings, like lectures, seminars, or performances.
Stay tuned for more updates as MSE enters its final year of renovation.