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Vol. 38, No. 18
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1-21-2009
By: Julia Harris Behind closed doors
To most people, the metamorphosis taking place behind the shuttered doors of the Thompson Library is shrouded in mystery.
To Dave Lee, one of the project’s architects and overseers, it’s just a little bit shy of miraculous. He’s been involved in the nearly $109 million project since his firm, George Acock Associates, first interviewed for it in 2002 and has been working on-site since 2006.
“It’s unfolding right now almost on a daily basis as the finishes go in,” he said. “There are new things that turn out so much better than I’d envisioned them.”
For a campus landmark that’s been around since 1913 — a majestic limestone symbol of the university’s commitment to academic excellence — the standard of quality is set very high.
“A lot of stuff today is almost throwaway architecture: It’s got a short shelf life before it gets bulldozed and something else will be built in its place,” he said. “This building needs to last a lot longer. Even though technology changes and moves along, if you do it right, the building can stay relevant for another 50 or 100 years.”
Some of Lee’s zeal for perfection is personal. He graduated from Ohio State in 1979 with a degree of engineering from what was then the College of Engineering School of Architecture. During his 17 years with Acock, Lee has had occasion to work on several Ohio State projects, such as the Hamilton Hall renovation in 1989 and the Health Sciences Library renovation.
The Main Library, however, is extra special. “I can say I love campus more now than I ever appreciated it when I was going to school here,” Lee said. “Being in this library during the construction, going up in the tower, lets you see all the way around and it reminds you that this is a big campus with a lot to offer.” |
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libraryprogressreport
The library project is still within budget and on schedule to be completed by April 30, 2009. Pictured below are some of the new features; not shown but still worthy of note are the new campus reading room on the 11th floor, the gallery space on the first floor and all the white oak paneling throughout the building.
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The Grand Reading Room on the second floor has a new cork floor, restored and repainted plasterwork and new full-length windows — with window seats — overlooking the Oval. Honey-colored bookshelves line the walls, ready to house the 14,000 reference books librarians are choosing for them now. Sixteen large tables — made of the same Ohio white oak as the bookshelves — are being built by a Zanesville-based contractor. A replica of the Winged Victory statue that used to preside over the room back in the early 1900s is on order from a firm in Boston.
“It’s just about done except for the furnishings,” said Wes Boomgaarden, library preservation officer. |
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A terrace opens off the glassed-in fourth floor, with a view of RPAC and Ohio Stadium. Three shallow, rectangular beds of tumbled glass — blue, green and white, recycled from whisky and vodka bottles — sprout metallic LED light fixtures that, when illuminated, “should really make that glass sparkle,” said Lee. |
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As part of the state of Ohio’s Percent for Art program — which requires a certain percentage of construction funds for new buildings be allocated for artwork — two major art projects are being undertaken. In the West Reading Room, the glassed-in addition overlooking the RPAC, there will be a cork floor custom designed by an Ohio State art professor.
“Ann Hamilton is creating a sculpted cork floor with word images — letters of contrasting colors,” said Wes Boomgaarden, library preservation officer. “It will be installed in the summer as we’re moving in.”
Elsewhere in the library will be brass symbols inlaid in floor tiles. There will be 49 of these panels, all different sizes, each depicting a different form of writing. The inlays are meant to signify the wealth and diversity of scholarly resources in the library’s collection. |
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