Renderings of the New Library

Exterior

The new Automated Retrieval Center (ARC) will be located on the west side of the library and will be completed in sandstone. The Library's western entrance will remain in the same location, just south of the University Bookstore. The Garden Terrace, on the roof of the ARC, will extend off of the third floor Grand Reading Room and provide expansive views.

Knowledge Commons
The Knowledge Commons is a progressive concept now being adopted by many research libraries across the nation. It will be a technology intensive center staffed with traditional and technical library professionals to assist students with all their information needs.

Automated Retrieval Center (ARC)
The Automated Retrieval Center (ARC) is a robotically operated, high-density storage system that will house some of the library’s books, journals, and audio-visual materials. Patrons will select materials from library computers and items will be retrieved and sent to the ARC counter where materials can be check out.

Grand Reading Room / Garden Terrace
Made possible by a generous grant from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, this will be a quiet, traditional study room with a modern flair. Extending off of the Grand Reading Room from the roof of the Automated Retrieval Center, the Garden Terrace will offer spectacular views to the west. This rendering was made from the perspective of standing out on the Garden Terrace and looking east into the Grand Reading Room. 

Kaleidoscope Room
These are high-tech classrooms with the ability for multiple screen projection and state-of-the-art computing. There will be four Kaleidoscope rooms, as well as auditorium style presentation rooms and other classrooms, within the Electronic Education Center.

Special Collections Research and Reading Room
By renovating Special Collection’s Research and Reading Room we will greatly enhance access to the collections-both through an improved physical space and through new access to electronic resources, including the Internet. Additional digitization efforts will be made possible by an enlarged and improved digitization lab. Additionally, by improving environmental controls and security systems, we will heighten the level of safety and preservation of the collection.

Cyber Café
The U of U campus is a commuter campus and students who don’t live in the dormitories spend long days in campus centers such as the library. Last year we had 1.5 million entrances to our library. In user satisfaction surveys students have requested a place to purchase food in the library. A place where they can refresh, gather with peers, and plug in their laptops, the cyber café will be a wonderful addition to the library’s first floor. This is an image taken of the library's existing coffee cart area, which is highly popular with students.

Glass Panels
Replacing the library’s solid exterior panels with glass will provide natural light throughout the much of the library. Not only will the library become more inviting and comfortable during the day, it will illuminate beautifully at night.

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1/23/08