Learning Commons and Library at Santa Clara University

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Learning Commons, Technology Center & Library

Welcome

This site will track the progress of Santa Clara University's new Learning Commons, Technology Center and Library. It contains photos of the current architectural model for the exterior of this new facility, information about major donors, the current estimated schedule for construction of the building, and a weekly chronicle of the construction.

We expect the Learning Commons, Technology Center and Library to be open for the start of spring term 2008, or shortly thereafter. Information about library facilities and services available during the construction period for the new building may be found on the University Library website.

Building Dedication Set!

There will be a dedication ceremony for the Learning Commons, Technology Center and Library in the late afternoon of March 14, 2008, in conjunction with the President’s Club dinner set for that evening. More details will be posted here as they are finalized.

There will also be a Grand Opening when the building is open to the public. That date is a little fluid right now as we rush to finalize the building, but is tentatively set for March 31, 2008, the first day of spring term. Again, more details here as we get closer.

We've Started Construction!

Demolition of the Orradre Library building started on June 26 2006 with asbestos abatement, followed by interior demolition and recycling of the steel bookcases. Demolition of the exterior started on July 24 2006, and it’s been a blur ever since! As noted above, we have a tentative opening date of March 31, but a lot needs to happen for that to occur. We’re in the last stages of construction in January 2008 and expect to begin installing furnishings, computers and audio/visual technology early in February. Everything has to fall precisely into place to make the proposed opening date, but many people are working very hard to make it happen.

Check the CIO's weekly construction blog for weekly progress updates and to review the history of the project.

Information Commons Survey

As part of the planning process for the Information Commons component of the new library, students and faculty were asked to complete a survey about the resources and services that they thought would be most valuable to provide in the new building. This PowerPoint presentation summarizes the responses in order from most important to least important (based on the combined student responses), noting the average ratings of undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty for their students, and faculty for themselves. There are also some summaries of most and least desired features, and comparisons of faculty and student responses.