This blog details the three-year journey to renovate Hale Library after the May 22, 2018, fire.
This blog has allowed us to share our journey of recovery with the K-State and library communities both near and far. We will never forget the generosity and outpouring of support as we worked to rebuild and create a next-generation library.
It’s a new year, we are 20 months post-fire and we just started the spring 2020 semester at K-State. We are feeling energized! Over the course of this year we will watch as Hale Library nears the finish line of a two and a half year recovery, restoration and renovation project. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and we are amazed at the progress made in just the last few months.
On Dec. 11, 2019 several workers installed the ceiling on the West end of the second floor.On the same date, the East end of the second floor was almost ready for flooring installation.Just a few weeks later on Dec. 26, 2019 the second floor was looking fresh and clean with new carpet throughout. Most of second floor is scheduled to open after Spring Break. On the other side of this glass wall, there will be new help desks for both library and IT help. Previously, these two help desks were in separate locations. Now it will be easier than ever for our users to find help. (Jan. 13, 2020)
Up on the third floor, construction has started on a new 60-person classroom for library instruction. The large instruction room is made possible through fundraising efforts by the Friends of the K-State Libraries.
On Dec. 11, 2019 the large instruction room was starting to take shape, literally. The outside of the instruction room with have a unique ellipse shape.Fast forward to Jan. 9, 2020 and the classroom is now enclosed with drywall.Behind the temporary walls on the first floor, work continues on Joyce and Joe’s Cornerstone Cafe. On Dec. 6, plumbing was roughed in for the new cafe.The plaster repair work has begun in the historic 1927 portion of the building. Here, three workers repair the ceiling on the second floor of Historic Farrell Library. (Jan. 2, 2020)On Jan. 8, 2020, a worker repairs plaster near the ceiling of the Great Room. It is estimated that all the plaster repairs will take about six months to complete.Also in the Great Room, workers prepped the ceiling for the return of restored wood. In our next blog post we will detail this exciting process that has been months in the making.
