If you have been to the Library recently, you’ve seen the buzz of construction activity.
The renovations which are being undertaken in the Library are to prepare for and ensure ease of access to the bridge that will link the Library and the SLC. This blog post describes the physical aspect for which this bridge will serve. However, the purpose of this bridge goes far beyond girders and glass. It will link Ryerson’s new front entrance from Yonge Street to the rest of campus. In essence, we are building a bridge to Ryerson.
Here’s how the bridge will link the two buildings:
- Walking off of Yonge Street, the entrance of the SLC leads to an open amphitheatre space and cafe. This two-storey tiered casual seating area houses the entrance and bridge to the LIB. The stairwell on level 1 takes you to the bridge on level 2.
- As you walk into the existing Library, access to the bridge will welcome you immediately and draw you over. As you walk onto the bridge, you will see the two-storey SLC entrance and amphitheatre, as well as great sightlines into the digital activity hub on level 3.
To make the bridge possible, here’s what you can expect over the next little while:
When the new bridge opens, there will be a significant increase in traffic through the existing main entrance of the Library. To anticipate and to ease the flow, the entrance/exit doors are being restructured.
- The existing Library entrance doors will become ‘hold open’ doors allowing for both entry and exit. Placing the doors on hold open will ease the flow of traffic in and out of the Library and through to the SLC.
- A feature wall currently faces the Library’s entrance. Removing a portion of this wall will help with flow of traffic between the bridge and the Library’s entrance/exit.
- Affixed to this wall was the floor directory and the digital signage. They have been removed during the construction and will be reinstalled once complete. Their permanent home once the SLC is open is still to be determined.
- The way-finding kiosk and the vending machine which were located near the entrance have been relocated during the construction. The vending machine is currently near the express computer stations. The way-finding kiosk will be repositioned near the new entry/exit doors.
- The existing exit doors will be closed permanently and converted into windows. All traffic will flow through the current entrance door. This will be the latter half of the project.
- The change in traffic patterns for the new entrance/exit access requires a repositioning and replacing of the Library’s existing security gates. The gates at the current exit will be removed altogether. The gates at the entrance will be repositioned so they will now face the Help Desk and be adjacent to the stairwell leading to the upper floors.
What this means during the renovation:
- Phase 1: temporary access into and out-of the Library will be through the current exit doors (until mid-August)
- Phase 2: the use of the new hold open – entry/exit doors will permit access into and out-of the Library. The old exit doors will be converted into windows
- Renovations started on July 14th and are scheduled to be complete in early September
You will see these posters throughout the renovation.
Contacts & Useful Links:
LIB renovations: If you have any questions regarding the renovations being undertaken in the LIB, please ask a staff member, or email refdesk@ryerson.ca.
LIB Blog: Library Renovations