What a difference a year makes.
This time last year, the Milton S. Eisenhower Library was empty—of books, furniture, students, staff, and just about everything that has animated it since it opened in 1964. The reason: MSE was finally getting its long overdue glow-up!
The glow-up (officially the MSE Library Modernization), is an ambitious renovation and redesign of the library, the first in the building’s 60-year history.
Alterations to the 182,000-square-foot building will include 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 University’s flagship library as an inspiring and welcoming space for 21st-century learning and research.
A year into the construction phase of the project, here are four major milestones to celebrate.
The centerpiece of the renovated interior will be the glass-enclosed wishbone staircase, lit by a walkable, quad-level skylight that will allow natural daylight to penetrate into subterranean study spaces. Yes, even down to D-level.
Throughout the fall of 2024, floor slabs were cut on each level to create the vertical opening for the staircase.
Speaking of maximizing light, the renovated MSE will feature a double-height reading room that spans C and B Levels. During December and January, its cut-through was created and work began to reinforce the opening with structural steel.
In March, a tower crane was erected on-site to remove debris from interior demolition. The basket of the crane drops through the staircase cut-through created in the fall to access all levels of the building, a faster way to empty the building than carrying or carting individual loads out through the front doors. The crane will remain on-site for the duration of the project.
At the end of March, the Libraries hosted a Furniture Fair in Levering’s Great Hall, which allowed students to test out and provide feedback on proposed furnishings, including chairs, desks, tables, carrels, and study pods. An article in the News-Letter captures the excitement and range of opinions on display that day.
As we head into year two of the renovation project, abatement and demolition work continue. Soon, new materials, including new infrastructure such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and fire protection systems, will be installed. New walls are being framed, and new doors, windows, and skylights are on the horizon. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we progress ever closer to the opening of the new MSE!