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ONLINE 27-OCT-00 Fondren Library renovations postponed by Mark Lai thresher staff caleb redfield/thresher Renovations of Fondren Library, which were initially scheduled to begin in May 2001 and end in December 2004, were postponed after the Board of Trustees rejected the blueprints of the original architect. The most expensive building renovation in Rice's history has been postponed after the Board of Trustees rejected blueprints for the $87 million makeover of Fondren Library at their September meeting. President Malcolm Gillis, speaking for the board, said architect Robert Venturi was extraordinarily capable, but the scale of the proposed renovations posed problems. "It was not a problem with Venturi's skills, but a lack of clear instructions," Gillis said. Project Manager Ana Ramirez said the plans were "very dynamic, and very creative" given the physical constraints of Fondren's location. These include the new Humanities Building to the south, the possible expansion of Anderson Hall to the north, an underground utility tunnel to the west and the academic quad to the east. Michael Wilford, who formerly taught at Rice and also worked on Anderson Hall, has been chosen as the new architect. He will present plans in two to three months. The renovation will involve an archway leading from the center of the academic quad to the area behind Fondren, which includes the Rice Memorial Center and Herring Hall. "[Fondren is] a wall in the middle of campus where you wouldn't want a wall," Hanszen College senior Rudy Fink, undergraduate representative to the University Standing Committee on the Library, said. Construction on the project was initially scheduled to begin in May 2001 and end December 2004. "[Rice students] have no love for a building starting construction," Fink said. "It's obvious that we don't want to do something wrong." Under Venturi's original plans, the 1969 addition of the west part of the library would have been demolished and completely rebuilt first. Then, the original library, built in 1947, would be renovated. The new library would be nearly 300,000 square feet. Ramirez said alternative study space will be provided during the renovation to minimize disruption of student life. Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott Inc. is the executive architectural firm in charge of the project. The company will manage the actual implementation and building specifics. The firm designed Yale University's Irving S. Gilmore Music Library in 1998 and has done work for Harvard University. - back - Search the Thresher pages: Enter your search terms: Copyright © 2000 The Rice Thresher. All Rights Reserved. This document may be distributed electronically, provided that it is distributed in its entirety and includes this notice. However, it cannot be reprinted without the express written permission of: The Rice Thresher, Rice University MS-524, PO Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892, USA. The Thresher Online Project -- ethresh@listserv.rice.edu