Planning for the James B. Hunt Jr. Library, the second phase of the NCSU Libraries’ Master Plan, is underway thanks to a $17 million appropriation from the General Assembly. In addition to supporting the planning process, the funding will also extend the necessary utilities to the library’s building site at the south end of NC State’s Centennial Campus Oval.

The Hunt Library, with a total project cost of $114 million, will be a companion to the D. H. Hill Library, providing critically needed study space for students and faculty. It will house collections focused on engineering, textiles, and specific scientific disciplines that relate to research underway or planned for Centennial Campus. The prominent site between the new College of Engineering buildings and the planned Town Center ensures that the library will be on the primary pedestrian pathway and the nexus or “living room” for the campus. Sharing the 264,000 gross-square-foot facility will be the Institute for Emerging Issues, which former governor James B. Hunt Jr. was instrumental in establishing.

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Larry A. Nielsen is chair of the building committee. Other committee members are:

Susan Nutter, Vice Provost and Director of Libraries

Carolyn Argentati, Donald Moreland Deputy Director of Libraries

Anita Brown-Graham, Director of the Institute for Emerging Issues

Michelle Bolas, Assistant Director of the Institute for Emerging Issues

David Rainer, Associate Vice Chancellor for Environmental Health and Public Safety

Jack Colby, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Facilities Operations

Marvin Malecha, Dean of the College of Design

Jim Martin, Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Faculty Senate

Tom Miller, Vice Provost for Distance Education and Learning Technology

Bob Fraser, Associate Vice Chancellor for Centennial Campus Development

Mike Harwood, University Architect

Carolyn Axtman, Architect and Project Manager

Carole Acquesta, Director, Capital Project Design

Selection of the lead architectural design firm will be completed by mid-November with programming completed by May 2008. If all goes according to schedule, construction will be completed in 2011.

By Jeanne Hammer, Capital Management and External Relations, NCSU Libraries

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Reprinted with permission from NCSU Libraries and Focus Online – View the original article