Visual History On 10 April 1997, the Implementation Planning Group visited the Harvard Depository for a first-hand view of how a shelving facility works. Shown below are (left to right) Diane Abbott, Paul Stuehrenberg, Sue Crockford-Peters, Anthony Riccio, Mary LaFogg, Gail Harris, Carol Jones, Susan Burdick, Tom Schneiter, and Steven Arakawa. Click here for a visual summary of the trip's highlights. Below is an aerial view of the location before construction began. As work begins, Project Superintendent Robert LeBel and Project Manager Gregory O. Bliss discuss site details with architect Bruce Scott. An official "ground-breaking" ceremony was held on 31 March 1998 in the Sterling Memorial Library Lecture Hall. Following a presentation on the building and the project to library staff by architect Bruce Scott, several dignitaries symbolically turned over the dirt (brought from the Hamden site). From right to left (with shovels) are Associate Provost Lloyd Suttle, Sue Crockford-Peters (Head, Cross Campus Library), University Librarian Scott Bennett, followed by Bruce Scott, John Vincenti, Manager of Building Operations and Security for the Library, and Danuta Nitecki, Associate University Librarian. Sue was selected in a random drawing to represent library staff in this festive event. On 31 March 1998, construction of the Library Shelving Facility began at 147 Leeder Hill Drive, Hamden, Connecticut. Barr & Barr, Inc. is the General Contractor responsible for construction. 6-5-98: A mason is about to start the next  layer of block around the two loading dock entrances that are taking shape. 6-5-98: Outer walls to the processing area are being built. 6-5-98: Workers are building the wall of the processing area with openings for future entrances to the shelving modules. 6-5-98: The walls of the shelving module are built about half-way to their 30 foot heights. As the wheelbarrow illustrates, this is becoming a really large space. 6-16-98: Walls of the shelving module are now approximately 20 ft. high and require bracing until the roof is installed. 7-2-98: Cables and braces support the walls of the shelving module while the steel roof trusses are being positioned. 7-2-98: This view of the loading docks shows the height of the shelving module behind the processing area and the crane used to place the module's roof trusses in place. 7-21-98: Architect Bruce Scott is pleased to see that the processing area and the shelving module have reached their full heights. A group of Yale University Library staff visited the Cornell University Library Annex on 28 July 1998. Click here for a visual summary of the trip's highlights. 8-4-98: The processing area floor has been poured ... 8-4-98: ... and the floor surface is being smoothed. 8-4-98: The ground in the shelving module is prepared for the upcoming pour of the super-flat slab floor. 8-11-98: The levelness of the floor was repeatedly measured with a transit mounted on a tripod. 8-11-98: The superflat slab in the shelving module was poured in several sections over three days. After the concrete was poured, men worked to spread and then smooth it further with a steel beam. 8-18-98: Duct work is mounted close to the roof of the shelving module. 9-15-98: John Vincenti confirms that all's in place on the roof. 9-29-98: The exterior surface is almost complete as the driveway is being prepared. 9-29-98: Project managers Robert LeBel and Gregory O. Bliss from Barr & Barr are pleased to show us that walls are up in the processing area. 9-29-98: Architect Bruce Scott examines the deposited loam to be spread for the front lawn. 10-13-98: Appliances have arrived for the break room, where colored tiles have been installed as well. 10-27-98: From either perspective, the processing area looks big without furniture, staff or materials. The processing area can be viewed from the break room. 10-27-98: Uprights for the shelving create interesting patterns. 10-27-98: The telecommunication switchboards are being examined in the electric room. 10-27-98: The first use of the (almost completed) Library Shelving Facility conference room was hosting today's construction meeting. In attendance, left to right: John Vincenti, Manager of Building Operations and Security for the Library; Richard Vollaro, Senior Mechanical Engineer, Yale Office of Facilities; Robert Lebel, Project Superintendent; Gregory O. Bliss, Project Manager; Bruce Scott, architect; and Danuta Nitecki, Associate University Librarian (not shown). 10-27-98: Landscapers are planting shrubs and trees to screen the Library Shelving Facility from view of Putnam Street residents. 10-30-98: Furniture has arrived for the staff break room and for the offices. 10-30-98: Partitions are in place to define the processing areas. 11-17-98: The Library Shelving Facility exterior is completed and its parking spaces used. Notice the Yale blue strip around the shelving module. Completed loading docks are ready to receive materials. 11-24-98: The Library Shelving Facility operations will be in good hands under the leadership of Mike DiMassa, Manager (right) and Marvin Tillman, Materials Assistant (left). 11-24-98: John Vincenti (left) and Rob LeBel (right) are pleased to see workbenches and other details in place. 11-24-98: Consultant Reese Dill reviews with Mike DiMassa his recommendations for arranging materials on the shelves according to his "plannograph." 11-24-98: Reese Dill illustrates how a shelf is installed. 11-25-98: The Library Shelving Facility staff spent their day today being trained in operating the order picker. Pictured left to right are Marvin Tillman, Tania Grant-Lopes, Gareth Gibson, John Giamattei, Jim Esposito and Mike DiMassa. 11-25-98: Tania is learning to operate the Raymond order picker during training. 12-11-98: Chris Brennan from Generation Fifth Applications spent the week training staff ... and showed her affection for the system as she prepared to leave the Library Shelving Facility. Return to the top of this visual tour. LSF HOME PAGE Yale University Library Copyright Last modified: 16 November 1999 Comments: danuta.nitecki@yale.edu This file is located at http://www.library.yale.edu/lsf/visual.html