Feb 6 2010
Grand Valley State University's Board of Trustees voted at its Feb. 5 meeting to approve a new library project for the Allendale campus using private and university funds.
The construction of the Mary Idema Pew Library and Information Commons will have a positive economic impact on the region by creating 1,500 design and construction jobs. The project is estimated at $70 million, which includes renovation of the existing Zumberge Library for new purposes.
"This new library has been our top priority for years and our students need us to get started with it," Grand Valley president Thomas J. Haas said.
Haas went on to say it’s important to note that this project will not raise tuition. It will provide much-needed facilities to serve students. The current library on the Allendale Campus was built in 1969 for a projected student body of 5,000. Today Grand Valley has 24,400 students.
The technology and learning design of the new library will serve as an incubator for 21st century skills, preparing students to compete globally in the information age. The new library will provide approximately 1,500 seats for student study, 30 group study rooms, and offices and support areas for faculty and staff. There will be room for 150,000 books on open shelves and 600,000 books in an automated storage/retrieval system.
The facility will be built to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Platinum specifications — the highest possible standards in that sustainability rating system.
The general manager/contractor for the project is Pioneer Construction. The SHW Group, LLC, is the project architect and engineer. Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr and Huber, Inc. is the civil engineer. Construction on the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons is set to begin in spring, 2011 and will be completed in 2013.
Source: http://www.gvsu.edu/