Milner Library will be seeing many building improvements in the next year, and the first project started Monday, December 5. Restrooms on Floors 5 and 6 are closed and will be completely updated. The anticipated completion for the first phase of this project is late February 2017. Phase two will continue immediately after the completion of Floors 5 and 6 with the restrooms on Floors 3 and 4, followed by Floors 1 and 2 completing the project as phase 3. Renovations began on the upper floors to accommodate plumbing upgrades necessary in the building while avoiding any disruption of plumbing on lower floors. Multiple floors are included in each phase to address budget limitations and decrease the overall schedule of the renovations. Water bottle filling stations located at the restrooms will be blocked during renovations. An additional bottle filling station is available on the south side of Floor 6.
“While the renovations are inconvenient, there is no best time to renovate a restroom and remove it from use temporarily,” said Becky Franz, library facilities project director. “These types of improvements require more time to complete than what is possible to limit to summer break. At the conclusion of this project, Milner will have all public restrooms meeting ADA accessibility code requirements; improved plumbing, which affects water pressure; updated fixtures; and an improved aesthetic. Please be patient while we make Milner a better place for all patrons.”
The library also received funding in July 2016 to repair Milner Plaza. Did you know that there is actually library space beneath the plaza that you may walk over every day? The funding received allows the repair of long-term water infiltration issues that have plagued the first floor. This project will allow Floor 1, currently closed to the public, to return to open circulation and provide additional study space and seating for approximately 300. The space is still in design so a final seating count is unconfirmed but Milner is grateful to Campus Administration and the Board of Trustees for their support of these much-needed improvements. Construction is anticipated to begin in early spring 2017.
