On Monday, November 8, 2004, over sixty library staff members attended the information 
session about the Cross Campus and Sterling Memorial Libraries Phase II Renovation project
during which several members of the Project Team were introduced:  Thomas Beeby, Gary Ainge,
and Lawton Thies, architects from Hammond, Beeby, Rupert, Ainge [HBRA]; Laura Cruickshank
and Richard Vollaro, Yale Facilities; and Alice Prochaska and Danuta Nitecki, YUL; other
members of this Team include representatives from the construction manager Barr and Barr,
and John Vincenti, Library Facilities.

Laura reviewed the Preliminary Design stage that is beginning now and will result by the end
of January '05, in preliminary designs for the CCL, the tunnel connection to SML, Machine City
and some surrounding areas in the basement, and the vertical connection [stair or elevator] to
the nave.  Construction is expected to begin after the spring semester ends in 2006 and be 
concluded in time for reopening by fall semester 2007.  She expects that during construction,
CCL will be totally evacuated and closed to the public and indicated that work will soon begin
in earnest on how to accommodate a temporary relocation of CCL staff, collections and services.
Tom Beeby described the work that HBRA is doing to fully understand the concept and proposals
prepared during the project's Conceptual Design phase, and his eagerness to undertake the design
for this exciting project.

Alice launched a lively discussion by inviting those CCL staff present to express their desires
for the renovated space.  The architects joined Alice and others on the Team to stress the 
importance of feedback from multiple stakeholders. The architects reinforced mutual interest to
address the numerous issues raised by staff, including the building's temperature, lighting, 
workspaces, and water leaks. There will be numerous opportunities for staff to give input on the
project, but Alice urged additional comments be sent anytime to Danuta Nitecki or herself.  She
also noted that the Library's Project Manager, Rob Daigle, is designing a web site to include an 
easy way to read about the Phase II project and to send comments about it.


Danuta Nitecki,
Associate University Librarian, and
 Library Project Director for Phase 2