Providing upgraded study space throughout the year and particularly during peak periods is a main objective of University Libraries Dean Bob Fox, who plans to renovate Ekstrom’s third floor in the coming year, adding new seating and modernized study areas. It is a project recently awarded a $500,000 grant by University Administration, and heartily endorsed by the Student Government Association.

“UofL is on track to grow from 22,000 to 30,000 students,” said Fox. “We need to be able to support a larger university population with a high-quality library experience.

“Our footprint and square footage will not grow, so we need to make use of the space we have. We want to provide students with upgraded study areas and seating so they are supported during times when they really need space in the library. Raising the seat-to-student ratio in our central library helps UofL’s competitive edge in recruiting new students and retaining current ones.”

Reaching that goal will require relocation of some lesser-used collections to a new storage bay, which was just opened in Ekstrom Library’s (RRS) to free up space for seating. The expansive metal shelves will be filled with a variety of materials from Ekstrom’s third floor, along with items from Archives/Special Collections, Music and Art libraries.

For cost and efficiency reasons, the new storage bay was built adjacent to, but not part of, the RRS, which will continue to operate as before. Many visitors are aware of the RRS, with its tall steel shelving separated by glass behind Ekstrom’s west service desk, where anyone requesting an item can watch as a large mechanical arm lifts a long shelf from a long row, pivots and steadily delivers the bin to a waiting Libraries staff member. The RRS is identical to retrieval systems in auto parts retailers, warehouses or distribution centers; however, while the technology was state-of-the-art when it was first installed in 2005, it has now become somewhat dated and hence prohibitively expensive to expand. The new storage bay was completed with a much lower budget and will hold just as much as another RRS bay.

Currently, the Libraries are working with a strong donor base to raise funds for the third floor renovation. JRA Architects, hired for the recent renovation of Ekstrom’s First Floor East, has been chosen to design the project, which is currently estimated to total $3.5 to 4 million. Renderings of potential uses of the space reveal expansive study areas with open floor plans, ample natural light and a potential reading room in the Writing Center’s old offices. The Libraries will share future renderings as programming further defines the final design.

As soon as the spring semester ends, these employees move into action, able to operate more efficiently when the campus is at a slower pace, according to Aaron Boggs, director of Buildings and Grounds.

What the campus community will notice are details such as fresh mulch in the landscape beds, trimming, shrubbery and paint. What they won’t notice as much is all the work that has been done inside of the buildings.

“Many times, Housing will have a list of needs to address inside of the dorms. We also take on larger renovation projects as well as schedule major maintenance on air conditioning systems, electrical systems and plumbing during the summer break,” Boggs said.

The list of priorities for the team is extensive, but having a beautiful campus augments the students’ experience and is well worth it, Boggs adds.

“Our priorities are to make sure the students feel safe and comfortable while on campus and to help provide a great environment for them to learn in. We also believe that giving faculty and staff a great place to work supports them in their efforts of educating students,” he said. “Properly functioning buildings and aesthetically pleasing grounds have a synergistic effect on everyone at UofL.”

Several projects – including renovations in various buildings and refreshed paint – are new this year. However, much of the team’s time has been spent supporting the three major construction projects on the Belknap campus – the Belknap Academic Building, SAC renovations and Cardinal Stadium renovations.

“What most people don’t realize is that Physical Plant has thousands of hours invested in ensuring that our construction projects are successfully delivered,” Boggs said. “There hasn’t been a day that has gone by in the past two years where our staff has not supported these projects in some form or fashion.”

This is especially important for the Physical Plant crew members, as they’re tasked with maintaining the buildings after they’re completed.

Boggs said that while there is a push to get projects completed before the first day of the fall semester, the work isn’t much different than throughout the rest of the school year.

“Everything Physical Plant does all year long is to provide the best environment to learn in,” he said. “All of our effort is just part of the university’s mission to make UofL a great place to learn, work and invest in.”

Just a week into the new semester and he has already spent some time sampling the new menus including Olilo, which serves Mediterranean cuisine.

“It was awesome to walk in the SAC the first day and finally have all these options. Everything was delicious,” Correll said. “Olilo was my favorite, it was super unique and affordable.”

The new dining options are just part of the Student Activity Center renovation project, which is now at the halfway point.

With a project budget of more than $39 million, this is the SAC’s first major renovation since it’s creation in 1990. The renovations began June 2016 and the final phase is expected to be completed by summer 2018.

“This comes from looking at student needs and campus development over time, part of this renovation is to keep up with that development and complement the student experience,” said Tim Moore, director of student activities and the Student Activities Center. “This will make a much more dynamic campus experience.”

Some of the new dining options include:

• A newly-renovated Wendy’s
• A full-service Starbucks on the Floyd Street side of the SAC
• The Marketplace, a hub of new dining venues including: Olilo Mediterranean Cuisine, Prime Grill, Southern Traditions, Aqua Sushi by Drakes, and The Exchange, a rotating restaurant concept which will feature a changing menu

Some features still under construction include:

• The full-service Chick-Fil-A next to the MarketPlace, which should be completed and open on Aug. 28
• The addition to the plaza on the west side
• Work on the existing Multipurpose room

“We are going to be able to meet so many different needs for the student community and larger campus community with this renovation,” said Moore. “This project creates an environment to foster the educational excellence we want at UofL.”

More information about the SAC renovation is .