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The Sound of Jackhammers: It's Music to Our Ears
The noise you hear when you visit the Babbidge Library these days is likely to be the sound of jackhammers, and it's the sound of progress. The project to repair and update the Babbidge Library began in earnest in July, when part of the monumental north stairway was destroyed and when construction crews broke into the Current Journals Room, where new columns must be built. In its most recent session, the General Assembly approved a budget of approximately $22 million to: remedy the failing original design by adding new columns to support the cantilevered exterior areas; replace the leaking roof; wire the exterior perimeter with telecommunications cable for network access throughout the Library; build a new, accessible "front door" at street level on the north elevation of the building; renovate the exterior plaza; and remodel the interior plaza level of the Library, including additional space to accommodate Circulation and Reserve operations currently on Level 1. The 24 hour room will be enlarged as well, and will include cafe space.
Allan Dehar and Associates of New Haven has been selected as the architect for the project, and CRKlewin will serve as the general contractor. The entire project is expected to take approximately two years; please bear with us.
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