CPUC discusses plans to renovate Firestone at meeting

“Although it has been lovingly cared for by the University ... the reality is that this building, now 60-plus years old, simply needs to be completely revamped,” University Librarian Karin Trainer said of the University’s largest academic building.

University architect Ron McCoy GS ’80 joined Trainer and detailed the massive renovation slated to take place over the next 10 years. The University has established an agreement with the design firm Frederick Fisher and Partners, which will work alongside Shepley Bulfinch Richardson & Abbott, the firm that has worked on the renovations since 1997.

Trainer began her presentation by describing the history of the renovation process. “Firestone is a building that opened in 1948. At the time it was the absolute bee’s knees in modern academic libraries,” she said, explaining that time has taken its toll on the building both structurally and technologically.

Trainer said the current lighting and electrical system is “not very sustainable,” and the building does not meet modern accessibility standards for people in wheelchairs.

“In 1948, the telephone was about as modern as the building was designed to encompass,” she added.

One of the primary goals of the renovation is to use space more efficiently, including through the use of “new shelving and lighting, along with wider aisles.”

The Library of Congress classification system will also be adopted as part of the overhaul, replacing the current Richardson classification system, which is often difficult for patrons to understand. “It’s a pleasure to know now that the consolidation is underway,” Trainer said.

In a presentation on housing policies, Amy Campbell, the director of campus life initiatives, said that University ID cards will remain activated for all students over winter break. Last winter students had to request their cards to remain activated during the break. The limits placed on early move-in this year will be continued next year, she added.

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At the meeting, USG president Michael Yaroshefsky ’12 also presented the USG’s new events calendar website. Emily Shandley, associate director of University scheduling, followed with a similar presentation on changes to the University’s official online public events calendar.

Yaroshefsky said the new USG website, launched this month, will “change the way that students, faculty members and community members get involved on campus” by integrating social network components, such as event invitations for students.

Yaroshefsky noted the redundancy of current campus event calendars as he flipped through images of 28 University-related calendars in his PowerPoint presentation.

Other new features on the USG calendar, which can be found at cal.tigerapps.org, include personal event reminders, optional message boards and event administration tools.

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Shandley opened her presentation with lighthearted recognition that the University’s public calendar was one that Yaroshefsky had called redundant. She said she hopes the consolidated calendar will reduce time spent by event organizers on data entry.

In reference to the cost savings and increased efficiency offered by these consolidated calendars, President Shirley Tilghman said, “It sounds like were really making progress on calendars of all kinds, which is a good thing.”