VCU Libraries Construction

by University Librarian John E. Ulmschneider

VCU Libraries embarked on the process of designing a new library building back in April with the University’s issuance of a Request for Proposal for an architect/engineering firm.  Since that time, the RFP was awarded to the team of Moseley Architects/Shepley Bullfinch, and work began in earnest with the first meeting of the architects and the University building team on August 16.  We reviewed progress to date in the all-staff meeting on August 8.

In all, four all-day meetings have been held with the architect/engineering firm and the team representing the University.  From the University, Dennis Clark, Jeanne Hammer, me, and members of the University’s Facilities Management staff represent the University.  The principal design leaders from Moseley Architects and Shepley Bullfinch – George Nasis and Janette Blackburn and their colleagues – represent the architect/engineering firm.  The meetings have been long but very productive, and we’ve moved far down the road towards the design of a new building.

The process so far has been organized around two main objectives.  First, the meetings worked to create a “program” for the new building: basically, how much space to create, and how to use that space.  Fortunately the previously completed space study for JBC provided a strong foundation for this work.  The meetings for this phase moved along very quickly, since the team needed only to refine and confirm the overall space projections in the original study.

The second objective consisted largely of deciding exactly how and where to create the new space, a process known technically as “blocking and massing”.  In this phase of the project, the team has worked through different proposals for where space will be created and where space will be renovated, and how those spaces will be distributed within the new building and JBC.  The result was four different building concepts that provided new space in a new building and renovated space in JBC in four different configurations.  In addition, the architect/engineering firm has been exploring how the new building will sit on the proposed site, over the parking pit on the north side of JBC, including how the new building will affect pedestrian traffic flow. 

The second part of the project is now complete and the architect/engineering firm is moving forward with design proposals that capture the decisions that have been made.  I anticipate that in the next all-day meeting, scheduled for October 1, we’ll see the first possible designs and renderings for the new building, and how it will connect with JBC.  However, we already can say quite a bit about the space that the project will create and how it will look.

Inside the new building:

1. The great majority of the new building will be dedicated to space for students and faculty.  Staffing and collections space will be at a minimum.  There will be a significant increase in the quantity and variety of study seats to accommodate collaborative and individual work in active and quiet settings: signature reading rooms, reconfigurable labs and group work areas, presentation practice rooms, more tables and soft seating, and carrels for focused, individual work. 
2. Enhanced, dedicated research space to accommodate faculty and graduate students. 
3. Media creation space that provides access to current and experimental audio and video content, visual and graphic design and production tools, and other advanced media resources to support academic projects, including high-end computers for video manipulation. 
4. A significantly expanded Starbucks café that remains integrated with the library, providing a place within the library for study breaks and interaction among the VCU community. 
5. A large, flexible, media-rich presentation and event space for gatherings of the VCU academic community, and we hope this will include an outdoor terrace space. 
6. Incorporation of artwork, exhibit and event space to showcase VCU’s arts programs. 
7. Instructional spaces that incorporate robust technology and flexible furnishings to support a variety of teaching and learning activities: open to students when not being used for instruction. 
8. Expanded space to appropriately house and make available Cabell’s special collections. 
9. The interior will provide a blend of feature spaces that provide memorable destinations within the library and flexible, efficient spaces that will meet library needs for many years to come. 
10. The balance of collections and readers will evolve over time. As the efficiency of library collection storage is increased through the installation of compact shelving, more space can be freed up for student seating. 

Outside the building (from the street):

1. The expansion will be in the location of the existing loading dock, allowing for preservation of the green space east of the library. 
2. Use of glass in the facades of the new addition will reveal interior activity, creating a welcoming beacon that draws the VCU community into the library. 
3. The street levels of the library will provide pedestrian-scaled facades that welcome the campus into the building and engage with adjacent outdoor space. 
4. Pedestrian flow will be a primary consideration: the building design will minimize obstacles to pedestrian traffic from the new classroom building north to the Compass area, and from the Compass area west, north, and south.  The east pedestrian traffic approach should not be affected. 
5. Options are being explored for additional expansion space along the east side of Cabell, as well as improvements to all facades. The various approaches will be evaluated in context of the budget and all project priorities. 
6. The building design is targeting LEED Silver certification at a minimum. 
7. A screened service area for loading and trash/ recycling pick up will be accessed from Linden Street. The amount of space for parking and loading will be significantly smaller than currently provided, lessening impact on the adjacent campus environments. 
8. It is likely that Linden Street will be closed sometime in the future, possibly before the new library building opens in 2015.

I look forward to seeing the design alternatives that will capture these decisions. As soon as possible, the design will be shared with you and the VCU community for feedback.