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The first floor of the Main Library gets an important update
Over the summer, the Library successfully completed the fourth phase of its planned renovations. Work was concentrated on the first floor and included adding elements to the Information Commons, renovating service points for the Circulation and Interlibrary Loan departments, redesigning the look of the traffic areas, and relocating the New Book Alcove.
In the Information Commons, a project room was built in the northeast corner. This “smart” media room has state-of-the-art technology to aid students in developing their course projects and preparing their work for presentation. There are two boards that will “capture” student work in digital form. One board uses camera technology that digitizes work from a regular white board, and the other digitizes the writing and projected images from the board, and can then save the content to an electronic file, send it to a printer, or send it to colleagues via email. The project room is enclosed in an arc of pivoting perforated metal panels. In addition to the project room, a new ceiling and lighting were installed throughout the commons area.
The Circulation Department consolidated its service windows from two to one. Two self-check out computers are installed just to the east of the service window. A bulletin board returns to the right of these computers. The service window for Interlibrary Loan remains in the same location, but has been enlarged and fitted with a book drop for after-hours returns. The exterior walls of both of these departments have been faced in attractive natural slate tiles.
The New Book Alcove has been installed at the east end of the first floor, across from the escalator. It includes the new fiction corner as well as displays of faculty publications and books published by Northwestern University Press. Its warm wall color, wood shelving, and open wood ceiling are inviting touches.
The main traffic areas along the first floor were completely refreshed with a new ceiling and lighting, new carpeting, and complementary wall colors. The warmth of the wood established in previous renovations was carried into the traffic areas. Wood paneling was installed at entrances to major service areas. These wood entrances, or portals, mark the entrances to Reference; Periodicals and Newspapers; lower level collections and NU IT Academic Technologies services; and the north entrance to the Deering Library building.
The most dramatic change is the ceiling along the main stretch of the thoroughfare, from the entry stairs at the west to the entry to Periodicals. A ceiling grid of wood slats in the same warm-toned oak used elsewhere was installed. Strips of lights are staggered above the grid along the length of the long space and evenly light the floor. A suspended wood ceiling projects from the elevator lobby to indicate a route to both the Lower Level and the elevators.
The architects have introduced these architectural elements as visual cues to help visitors find their way around the Library. In redefining the main traffic areas, the architects also renamed the space, calling it a "forum," or a place in which people can meet, greet, and exchange ideas. With this redesign, University Library provides a place where people can linger awhile and enjoy an impromptu conversation.
John Blosser
Photos for this article provided by Gareth Ash