Groundbreaking set for April 27

Tue, January 29, 2002 |

Ground breaking ceremonies are scheduled on campus April 27 for a new Center for Library and Information Resources at Valparaiso University.

The University's Board of Directors voted at their quarterly meeting in Chicago last weekend to begin construction of the 115,000-square-foot facility that is being funded though a University campaign that has received more than $117 million in cash and pledges.

To be built just west of the Chapel of the Resurrection, the four-story building is expected to be completed prior to the start of the 2004-2005 academic year. It will house services currently provided in Moellering Library, which is about half the size of the new building, and combine traditional library services and contemporary electronic information technology in a single location.

Included in the building will be space for the library collection, including periodicals and reference materials; study areas; conference rooms; classrooms; and offices.

Other features include a public area that can be used for lectures, readings and other special activities; increased space for historical items housed in the University archives; areas that will facilitate work on group projects by small teams of students; and study seats linked to the University's computer network.

Included in the $33 million project is construction of the first leg of a new campus road that includes a new entrance to campus from U.S. 30. Work began last fall on the road and a new parking area that will be used for workers and materials delivery during the construction of the new building. The road eventually will become part of a new road encircling campus.