Library Has Reopened on Schedule after Construction-Related Closure

Construction crews were able wrap up projects in order for the library to reopen on schedule Monday, Jan. 5, after which, for several weeks anyway, library users will likely find the construction work more noticeable than at any previous point in the project, i.e., many more things out of place, more construction dust or debris than usual, and several areas pretty torn up.

This is especially the case in the 4th floor elevator lobby, a broad area of the 2nd floor surrounding the elevator lobby, and a broad area surrounding the 1st floor lobby. The temporary untidiness is due primarily to the large scale of the lower floor interior projects undertaken during the intersession library closure.

1st Floor: On the 1st floor both the ceiling removal in the elevator lobby | Learning Commons area as well as the installation of the fire suppression (sprinkler) system in the Technical Services area were completed during the closure as planned.  The lobby area looks very rough with its ceiling gone and lots of hanging wires and fixtures above. With crews in double shifts scheduled to start next Monday evening to install the lobby area sprinkler system and to begin to rebuild the ceiling, the area should look progressively better soon.

2nd Floor:  An abatement contractor has already moved on to the 2nd floor elevator lobby to get a head start on removing the ceiling there. Work in the 2nd floor lobby was officially scheduled for Jan. 5-17, but addressing this work earlier will reduce disruption in the library once the semester begins.  There was no “swing space” or easily identifiable areas for storage on the 2nd floor so furniture and other objects from the lobby and an affected office area behind it have been stacked in the aisle way nearby and in other areas on the same floor. During the period in which the 2nd floor lobby will be closed, the 2nd floor itself will be open for general use although it will have no elevator service. Access will be from the Dixon and Freret side stairwells. Alternate access to the library administrative office area will be through a side door  from the adjacent aisle in front of the general stacks on the Dixon Hall side of the building.

Elevator Service:   Elevator #1 is now running again and fully operational, with Schindler Elevator Company having completed an overhaul of the elevator’s controls during the library closure.

4th Floor:  Crews are working to rebuild the ceiling that was removed in the 4th floor elevator lobby and this may take a couple more weeks.  In the adjacent Music & Media Center workers have cleaned up after a water leak from an overhead drain pipe that occurred on Friday, Dec. 19, just a few days into the library closure period, but library staff will be dealing with some residual impacts for a while.  The leak began when a company installing window seals was said to have driven its lift over the exposed drain on the balcony area above.  Fortunately, water had been pouring in only for about 10-20 minutes or so before it was discovered. The area was being checked regularly, since the rain outside was heavy and this was a known trouble spot. After the leak about 270 books in varying condition ranging from partially wet to very wet were moved to our freezers at the library's Recovery Center at 900 S. Jefferson Davis Parkway.  With no regular elevator service in the building at the time, construction workers were enlisted to carry packed boxes of books up to the new 5th floor and down the buck hoist external elevator. Then the workers transported them to the Recovery Center in the cabs of a convoy of pickup trucks.