Ohio University has entered the master planning phase of a major renovation of Alden Library, with construction expected to begin after June 2026.
Announced in a July 24 news release, the project will be led by PerkinsEastman, a global architecture firm known for its work on academic libraries.
The firm was selected after a competitive process, with Ross noting PerkinsEastman is the most experienced with academic libraries.
Samantha Pelham, a university spokesperson, said the current phase is focused on gathering information and engaging with stakeholders focused on community outreach and feedback to understand the future of Alden Library.
The planning phase also relies on feedback to help determine what renovations and improvements are needed.
Rob Ross, the dean of University Libraries, explained the three intended phases of the project: the master plan, fundraising and construction.
“A lot of the master plan is listening, asking questions like, ‘What do you value in the current library? What do you wish you had in a new library?’” Ross said.
Ross said students and faculty will be involved in making suggestions to improve the library. The University Libraries Committee will send out surveys to gain feedback on what people hope to see from the updated library.
“Additionally, as part of this master plan phase, University Libraries plans to share a survey with all students, host student focus groups, and also offer students an opportunity to indicate their preferences as they get further along in the design process,” Pelham said.
The planning is still in the workshopping phase, but there is an idea of what renovations need to be done on each floor.
Ross said he and President Lori Stewart Gonzalez agreed the library is too heavily trafficked to close it down, so when funding starts to come in, the construction will be able to be done floor by floor.
“We’re calling it ‘seven floors, seven experiences,” Ross said. “A library means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, and we want to make sure that folks know if you need group study, we want there to be an entire floor focused on that kind of furniture and space.”
Alden was built in 1968 in the Brutalist architecture style, meaning it has “solid massing and minimal transparency,” according to the news release.
At a time when natural light is very important to library goers, PerkinsEastman recognized the potential that a building like Alden has.
“We felt like we're really good hands, because everyone wants natural light, and that's a real challenge for a building like this,” Ross said. “We're even talking about a roof that could be like an outdoor space for students.”
When the master plan phase ends, there will be a goal to reach for fundraising. Once enough money is raised to fund one of the floors, the construction will begin.
“The Library is a vital part of our campus community and contributes to the success of every student at Ohio University,” Provost Don Leo wrote in the news release. “An investment in the library is an investment in our whole campus community.”
