Lemieux Library opens, finishing touches being made

The Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons are complete. While finishing touches are still in progress, the new facility opened Monday Sept. 13.

Seattle University will be hosting a grand opening celebration inside the building Thursday, Sept. 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will be open to the public and will include free food and tours of the library.

Students and faculty alike are eager to take advantage of the new space, which boasts 24 hour secure study areas (accessible with a campus card) along with a new student named café called The Byte.

"I am excited because this new library will be more convenient for students living on or near campus, especially at night," said Michelle Velasquez, sophomore economics major. "I am also excited to be able to actually check out books."

Before construction began there were many criticisms of the old building's book selection and outdated exterior.

 "As good as the library staff is and as good as the quality of service they provided was, the facility was preventing them from offering services in a way that students needed them," said Michael Kerns, former Associate Vice President of Facilities.

The larger size will help eliminate crowding and feature many study areas so that, unlike last year, students will not have to do their homework in the laundry room or the cafeteria.

The modern Lemieux Library, completed below the allotted budget, offers much more than just the opportunity to check out books.

The building will provide instructional rooms, a faculty lounge and a multimedia studio and lab.

According to Kerns, the new renovations were necessary in order to bring Seattle U's library into the 21st century.

"Our educational experience is progressing and evolving at an ever-increasing rate," Kerns said. "The most dominant challenge is creating a space to accommodate that technology."

The new building will be significantly larger than the original building; it is a combination of old and new structures that allows for the original building to remain mostly intact.

The new library is not the only project that's expected to improve the lives of future students. The Douglas Residence Hall, now being built at the corner of 12th Avenue and Cherry Street, will give juniors and seniors an apartment style living environment while offering the benefits of an on-campus housing experience.

"This is kind of an in-between step that's similar to the Murphy's, but provides a different experience than we have on campus," Kerns said.

The new residence hall will have a total of 81 units, the majority of them (52) equipped with four bedrooms and two bathrooms.

This building will offer non-university affiliated retail shops and restaurant space open to the public.

The Douglas is expected to open by the beginning of the next school year.

Another significant building project is a two-story, 18,570 square foot, $10 million addition to the Connolly Center. According to the fitness center's project website, the first floor will house fitness equipment, cardio equipment, and free weights.

The second floor has additional fitness equipment, stretching areas, a fitness assessment office and a large studio for exercise classes. The fitness center will exemplify Seattle U's commitment to green energy and sustainability.

"Visibly, you will see a rain garden, bicycle racks, low flow water systems, window shades, as well as recycled and sustainable building materials [from the outside]," according to the project website.

"What you won't see […] within the design is the saving of energy on all fronts, such as heating, cooling, lighting and more."

Ellie may be reached at ewhite@su-spectator.com

Cameron may be reached at cdrews@su-spectator.com