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.
Hale Library’s first floor looks less like a skating rink and more like the beautiful home of the Dave & Ellie Everitt Learning Commons these days. Don’t miss the latest photos of the workers and spaces! We see in these images a promise of Hale Library’s bright future.
Doors will open to the first floor early in the fall semester, and the second floor will open spring 2020. The entire building will be complete by the end of 2020!
A worker lit by the glow of a laser line level measures the area where a row of white boards will be mounted. The limestone facade, which is the exterior wall of the 1950s addition, will still be visible around the margin of the white boards. July 16, 2019. A worker on stilts muds the drywall ceiling in front of the future Everitt Learning Commons white board wall. July 23, 2019.The former 24-hour study space will serve as a presentation and meeting room eventually. This fall it will be filled with tables and chairs, though, in order to meet the demand for more centrally located study spaces on campus. July 16, 2019. This large stretch of space will soon feature reserveable study rooms. The Hale Family Cornerstone Cafe will be located immediately next to this space. We can’t wait to see the menu when they open this spring! July 16, 2019. A crew member installs ceiling grid in the Dave & Ellie Everitt Learning Commons. July 16, 2019. Two men mud the drywall by the sunflower entrance at Hale Library’s southeast corner. The doors at left will open this fall into the new Dave & Ellie Everitt Learning Commons. July 23, 2019. A crew member installs flooring: Goodbye concrete shell, hello gorgeous carpet in lovely saturated tones of gray and purple! July 23, 2019.Meanwhile, up one level, demolition continues in order to make way for a fresh new second floor, opening spring 2020! July 16, 2019.The space by Hale Library’s main second floor gates await new flooring, new entryway framing and much more. Opening spring 2020! July 16, 2019.
Thank you to University Photo Service’s Tom Theis, who took most of these amazing photos!
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2 thoughts on “New developments in the Dave & Ellie Everitt Learning Commons”
What is the status of the plaster walls & murals? Are they drying out in such a way that they will be saved?
Hi, Lori, The plaster walls and murals are drying, and we fully expect them to be saved. We hope to have that space open by the end of 2020, although the process of fully restoring the murals will probably stretch into 2021.
What is the status of the plaster walls & murals? Are they drying out in such a way that they will be saved?
Hi, Lori, The plaster walls and murals are drying, and we fully expect them to be saved. We hope to have that space open by the end of 2020, although the process of fully restoring the murals will probably stretch into 2021.
Right now they look very similar to what they did in this post from late winter: http://blogs.k-state.edu/hale/2019/02/06/progress-update/
We can’t wait to see them again!