Library/Administration renovation under way
by Heather WoolwinePublic Relations
On July 26, the first floor of the Library/Administration Building closed for renovations to provide MUSC students with much deserved space.
Jamel
Washington, left, and David Napier, MUSC Surplus, remove the leftovers
from the Administration Building.
“These renovations will create a building totally dedicated to the academic needs of our students,” said Valerie West, Ed.D., MUSC associate provost for education and student life. “Having the library, classrooms, and other academic resources together with student study and lounge space will create a convenient and student-centered hub in the center of campus.”
With the closing of the first floor of the building, library access is now designated solely through the Basic Science Building and main hospital entrances on the second floor (also serving as the only handicap access at this time) and the stairwells to the second floor located on each side of the library building. These points of entry will be the only ways in and out of the building until spring 2005.
“Our goal is to have the renovations completed prior to graduation in May,” said George Dawson, MUSC project manager for the library building. “Our primary focus is to minimize the impact on students’ study and library hours during this process; that’s why we’ve included members of the SGA and other students in all levels of planning for this project. We’ve enjoyed having the students involved, and they will continue to meet with the facilities engineering team throughout the renovation process. We’re excited about giving MUSC students something they’ve never had before—a centralized area on campus that belongs only to them.”
Dawson, his colleagues, and administrators like West strived to design a space that Dawson said “will move this building from the 1970s to today and beyond in many aspects, from the finishes, etched glass, and flooring to the state-of-the-art classrooms and wireless capabilities.”
The renovations will allow for 13 new classrooms, five meeting rooms, a large student lounge, a dining area, a snack bar, new bathrooms, and an internal post office and copy center on the first floor. The second floor, where the president’s office was located, will house the Center for Academic Excellence, the Writing Center, the Center for Clinical Evaluation and Doctoring Curriculum and new restrooms.
The building will also receive new electrical and mechanical systems.
“One of the most impressive demonstrations of leadership on
Dr. Greenberg’s behalf has been the willingness to sacrifice his own space
to make this new student center possible,” Dawson said.
The president’s office and central administration are temporarily located on the first floor of the Cannon Place building at 135 Cannon Street.
In addition to the major improvements inside the library building, the outside will receive a facelift as well. The entire building will be re-coated in the same white paint, the balconies located on the second and third floors will be filled in for additional space, and the area known as the portico will be lessened with the changes made to the first floor.
While the portico space will be smaller, Dawson said there will be room for graduation and other recurring special events that take place under this area.
For information on the renovation plans or to access updates on the progress during its various stages of completion, go to http://www.moseleyprojects.com.
Friday, July 30, 2004
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