Grand Valley State University

Mary Idema Pew Library

Our Vision

The Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons will be a beautiful and inspiring building that will become the intellectual heart of the Allendale campus. It will exceed the expectations of anyone who thinks of a library as a static and fading “book box.” Students will perfect new skills, complete assignments, engage with their peers, gain confidence as they are coached to higher levels of academic achievement, discover something new, or maybe just immerse themselves in a good book. They will do these things in an environment that was created just for them—the right lighting, the right furniture, the right resources, the right services, the right spaces, and the right amount of flexibility. They will relish this space as part of their learning experience at GVSU.

The Pew Library will improve the academic experience at GVSU by:

  • Providing collections and services that support learning and scholarship
  • Extending learning beyond the classroom
  • Serving as an academic hub-a central place where widely diverse topics can be featured and explored
  • Creating a space that invites students to explore ideas
  • Offering rich, flexible learning environments
  • Promoting student success and advancing intellectual growth and discovery
  • Reflecting of the values and goals of the University

Areas of the Building:

  • Concourse with an atrium that extends up three floors
  • Multipurpose Auditorium with capacity for over 80 people
  • Exhibition space
  • Knowledge Market that will house peer coaching and mentoring services in the areas of researching, writing and presenting
  • 2 bibliographic training rooms
  • 2 reading rooms
  • IT Help Desk
  • Café with seating for nearly 100 people
  • Approximately 20 collaborative work areas allowing for private, group work
  • Open, browsable shelves with space for 150,000 books
  • State of the art automated storage and retrieval for up to 600,000 books

Design & Construction Team

GVSU is pleased to work with the SHW Group on the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons project. SHW has an interdisciplinary team of architects, engineers, planners, and educators with an extensive background in the design of innovative and student-friendly educational buildings. The firm was selected for this project because of its dedication to studying, defining, and creating environments that inspire creativity and drive student potential. The firm's work spans the globe, with projects in 23 states and three countries. It has earned numerous awards for design and planning, including recognition as one of the top five education design firms in the U.S. by Engineering News-Record.