William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library RestorationRenovation

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William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library
Restoration/Renovation

• The Ohio State University
• Main Library
• June 2003

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Planning a Remake of the Thompson Memorial Library
The opportunities here are dazzling and real.
Library Task Force Report, 1998

• Building on Library Strengths
• A Preeminent University Needs a Preeminent
  Library
• The History of the Main Library
• This was the climax of Impressiveness
• Scope and Plan for Restoration/Renovation
• Overall Plan and Vision
• Feasibility Study
• Architects Work

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A Preeminent Library

• Improved National Ranking
• 1995 26th in Association of Research Libraries
• 1999 21st (and 12th among publics)
• 2000 18th (and 11th among publics)
• 2001 19th (and 12th among publics)
• 2002 22nd (and 13th among publics)
• Partnership with OhioLINK
• Provides students and faculty with an array of
  on-line resources and print document delivery
  services that is the best in the nation
• 215 on-line databases, full-text articles of 25
  major publishers, 20,000 e-books, 46,000 art
  images, daily satellite images of Ohio
• Superb Library Staff
• Excellent general and special collections

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The Librarys Central Place
Place is still important to a library

• Paper preferred medium for reading
• Social aspects of learning and research
• People often want face-to-face service and
  instruction
• Symbolic and real center of knowledge and
  intellectual activity
• Grand spaces that inspire and pay tribute to
  scholarly achievement

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The Main Library A Campus Landmark at the Head
of the Oval
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Original Building, 1910-1913 Allen Collens
Architects, Boston
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Original Building, Main Staircase, 1913

• As one student described it in 1913, to mount
  the broad main stairs was in itself an experience
  unreal. Then at length to see the quiet grandeur
  of the vast Reference Hall, high windows to the
  east, chaste whiteness of the walls, and the high
  curve of the vaulted arches overhead this was
  the climax of impressiveness.
• (OSU Alumni Magazine, January 1913, p. 8)

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Information Services Area, 1998
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Circular Stairway and Special Display Area, 1998
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Original Building, Main Reading Room, 1913
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Reading Room, 3rd Floor, 1998
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First Addition, Stack Tower and Two Wings,
1948-1951 Howard Dwight Smith, University
Architect
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Cross Section of Stack Tower and Original Building
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Main Library Bookstacks, 2001
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Main Library Stacks Carrel, 1951
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Second Addition, 1975-1977, Lorenz, Williams,
Lively and Likens Architects
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(No Transcript)
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Scope and Plan for Restoration/Renovation

• 8-year, 75 - 125 million project
• Project Phases
• Phase 1 Planning 2000-2002
• Academic Feasibility Study
• Architectural Feasibility Study
• URS/Shepley Bulfinch selected and hired - January
  2001
• Study completed in January 2002
• Phase 2 Advocacy and Fund Raising 2000-2008
• Major Fund Raising Campaign with 30 million goal
• Team of two Development Officers
• Capital Request to the State 2003 2004
• Number one priority in University Capital Request
• Phase 3 Detailed Architectural Design
  2003-2004
• Architectural firms of George Acock Associates
  and Graham Gund Architects hired
• Phase 4 Construction 2005 - 2008

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Vision of a Renewed Main Library

• Gateway to the universe of information services,
  both print and digital
• Research Center for all fields of knowledge, but
  particularly for the humanities and liberal arts
• Showplace for the book arts and for new
  information technology
• Destination and gathering place on the Columbus
  Campus for inviting and inspiring space for
  reading, learning, and research
• Place of Celebration through its outstanding
  collections and services and through its grand
  spaces for the record of scholarly achievement
  and accumulation of knowledge

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Architectural Feasibility Study

• Create and test design options
• Plan for spaces that are attractive, flexible and
  functional
• Encourage support for the ultimate restoration/
  renovation of the Main Library
• Contractors URS (Columbus)/Shepley Bulfinch
  Richardson Abbott (Boston)

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Immediate Campus Environment
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Common Elements of All Restoration Alternatives

• Main Reading Room Restoration
• Atrium Remodeling
• Stack Tower Improvements
• Western Façade and Entrance

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Restored Grand Reading Room
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Remodeled Atrium
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Four Renovation Alternatives
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Renovation Alternative A
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Renovation Alternative B
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Renovation Alternative C
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Renovation Alternative D
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Every Inch of Space Quality Space
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Collection Management Changes Under Consideration

• Collections Moved Out of Main Library
• Map Library to Science and Engineering Library
• Social Science Collections to EHS Library
• library science, sociology, journalism/
• communications
• Appropriate material to Book Depository
• fragile, very infrequently-used materials
• Collections Moved into Main Library
• Theatre Research Library, Cartoon Research Library

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Graham Gund Architectural Portfolio
University of New Hampshire
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University of New Hampshire
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University of New Hampshire
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Kenyon College
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Kenyon College
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Case Western Reserve University
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Case Western Reserve University
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Holy Cross University
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Holy Cross University
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Taft School Library
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Taft School Library
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Taft School Library
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Mt. Holyoke