ALLENDALE, Mich. -- 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.
MEDIA NOTE: A high-resolution rendering of the project can be
downloaded here: http://gvsu.edu/r/?q=FB1337
AUDIO CLIPS
- President Haas says the new library is long overdue (audio)
- Haas says the original library was built for 5,000 students and Grand Valley now has more than 24,000 (audio)
- Haas says the new library has been a top priority for years (audio)
- Haas says he is thankful for the many supports who have stepped forward (audio)
