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 crunch time! Back in April, Hutton Construction superintendent Mike told us that toward the end of a job, it’s critical to get the “smarts and parts” in order to get them installed and meet the deadline.
“Those are the things like technology—and there’s going to be a lot of it on the first floor—or door handles and other fixtures that don’t get manufactured until the order is placed,” he said.
That’s the final step. And that’s exactly what’s going down now on Hale Library’s first floor.
The new sunflower entrance at Hale Library’s southeast corner leads directly onto the first floor Dave & Ellie Everitt Learning Commons. Once the video monitors and signage are installed — more “smarts and parts”! — this entryway will welcome visitors to the Everitt Learning Commons. A crew member cuts metal trim. A few of the reservable collaboration rooms are visible at right. Workers put finishing touches on more of the reservable collaboration rooms. All of the collaboration rooms have floor-to-ceiling white board walls, and most will be equipped with monitors for videoconferencing, practicing presentations and more. Workers install an accent wall near the elevator that will lead up to the second through fourth floors. Those spaces will remain under construction this semester. K-State Libraries graphic designer Tara Marintzer tries out some of the new furniture near the first floor stairway. More white boards are mounted in front of the limestone exterior of the 1955 library stacks addition. Plenty of seating will be available in front of these workspaces.Darchelle Martin, K-State Libraries public information officer, gets a shot of one of the seminar rooms. This will be designated as study space this semester, but it will be used for library instruction in the future, too.Another large study space with tables and video monitors for collaboration. A panoramic shot of the south side of the Everitt Learning Commons.Meanwhile, the rest of the building is still undergoing renovation, so some construction noise will be present during the daytime hours. Metal destined for recycling sits in a heap on third floor where demolition is underway. On second floor, a pile of salvaged wood trim in sits in the future home of the Dow Center for Multicultural and Community Studies. Construction lights illuminate a work space lined with tool chests. While the electricity has been restored to the first floor, the rest of the building is still running on construction power from an external source. The entryway to the third floor Great Room has been widened and will serve as a beautiful welcome into the restored historic space. New, improved graduate study spaces will flank this area. Workers pile construction debris on the north side of the third floor and get it ready to send out the window. Debris from demolition exits the building via this tube, so work from the upper floors won’t disrupt visitors to the Everitt Learning Commons when it opens. Soon! Very soon!
