Summer of 2022 saw the biggest renovation of the law library in over a decade. We added a grand reading room, new furniture, new lighting, new study areas, and many more updates. To appreciate where we are today, explore our photo journal showing how we got here. Long story short: it took a lot of planning, a lot of work, and a lot of noise, but in the end, the results speak for themselves.
No, we are not gearing up for Fahrenheit 451 cosplay. We are deaccessioning these old reporters.
Don’t worry. We upcycled these books into functional art by creating bookmarks and notepads from their covers
Our soon-to-be grand reading room not yet so grand.
The gravesites of the old bookshelves.
Spider Proud, everyday! Even through the noise and dust.
Busy bees.
Out go the carrels.
And out go the books.
The central staircase gets wrapped to protect it from the fresh paint.
Oh, the vast emptiness! Everything is moved out.
We unblocked the windows, allowing for much more natural light.
Dean Perdue and your law librarians tour the construction zone. Dean Perdue brought her own hardhat! It was her fathers, a Naval Officer and project manager on a major shipbuilding contract.
The guts of the building.
A crane lifts an I-beam into the building.
With the AC shut off, these massive mobile units kept the staff and construction workers cool throughout the summer. At least cool enough.
New offices going in.
Good bones. The old brick adds a touch of the traditional to the modern design.
A new decorative ceiling will feature much better lighting.
Our study areas looked like a warzone all summer, but the results are worth it!
Richmond blue accents on the new office walls.
The old stacks becoming the new reading room.
CAUTION! Cool stuff happening here.
With the construction blocking the exits, we created temporary doors for egress.
The old windows are some of this building’s best features. They feature prominently in the final design.
New modern light fixtures brighten up the space.
Things are starting to come together now.
Summer in Richmond + no central AC = giant fans!
These books stay cool during renovation.
Palettes of lumber being unloaded.
The newly remodeled restroom. There is a toilet in there now, I promise.
The library’s front door access was blocked off all summer.
New carpet. It really ties the room together.
New study booths are installed.
With the Richmond blue accent walls.
New bookshelves outside the library classrooms.
Cardboard covers the newly installed carpet as we add the final touches.
The upstairs study being put back together.
New shelves line the reading room.
The reading room’s new entrance features glass doors and panels.
Again, you see our fabulous windows are a centerpiece. Coupled with modern lighting, it is bright enough to actually read in here now.
New tables going in.
The books find their new home.
Laying out the furniture.
Dozens of new chairs being assembled.
The library classrooms got a refresh
One ring to rule them all. New lighting fixture over the staircase.
Glass doors separate the reading room from any noise outside.
Long tables provide built-in lighting and power strips.
Bar-height reading tables.
It’s starting to look like a library again!
Pull up a chair!
A cozy study area
Another view of the natural light spilling in
Walking into the reading room.
Library Director Roger Skalbeck in the grand reading room
