Eastern Illinois University has completed the restoration, renovation and addition to the 157,000-sf Booth Library. The $16,269,026 project was built by contractor Williams Brothers Construction and include a 134,200-sf renovation and a 12,800-sf addition. Chicago architectural firm Holabird & Root designed the facility, which received the 2002 AIA Chicago Interior Architecture Award. Originally built in 1948, an addition in 1968 provided some space for growth. The recent project includes an open atrium that connects all floors with a grand staircase, while linking the original building and the 1968 addition. The atrium also brings natural light into the heart of the library and provides a central study/circulation area.
The addition establishes a new south entry to the library and houses all the staff offices and University archives. Stack capacity was increased from 475,000 to 1,500,000 volumes. Preserving the integrity of the original structure, the project integrated current technologies for information retrieval and also established a logical pedestrian traffic pattern. The project reached occupancy in April with a rededication celebration on September 18. Consultants included KJWW Engineering as MEP/FP engineer and Terra Engineering as civil engineer.
