The Robert and Mary Rita Murphy Stump Library will be receiving new renovations starting on February 15.
The new renovations will take place on the L-wing lower level. According to a recent email sent to students and faculty alike: “The new reservations will include an art gallery, silent study spaces, library teaching lab, editing rooms, recording studio, small coffee venue student lounge, instructional design center, media services, and the student media center.”
The money for the renovation was received via a grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education Independent Colleges Capital Program (or the ICCAP). As this money comes from the state when the funds are readily available, this renovation comes as phase two of a three part renovation process. Phase one came in 2011 with the completed renovation of the library. Library Director Mark Vargas, who also serves as the renovation project director, recently spoke with “The Xavierite” on the upcoming renovations.
According to Mr. Vargas, the entire lower section of the L-wing will receive new ceiling and floor tiles as well as restrooms in addition to the aforementioned renovations. Mr. Vargas stressed that this new construction work will help bring that entire section of the school up to new standards and codes, while being both high tech and aesthetically beautiful.
“We’re not wasting any funds,” Mr. Vargas says. “This is a very budget driven process and we are making as wise an investment that we possibly can.”
For Mr. Vargas this project represents more than new cool gadgets for student use. Vargas also says of these new additions to the university, “This is not just about equipment; it’s about service. It’s about an effort to bring the educational process into the 21st century.”
On this effort Mr. Vargas has been accompanied also by Pete Skach (Head of Facilities) and Ray Catania (CFO) and “a lot of people [who] have put their heart and soul into this project [to build] something this school can be really proud of.”
The email also states, and Mr. Vargas confirmed, that these renovations will be of no cost to students. No funds directly belonging to St. Xavier University or tuition funds are being used for this renovation. The funds for the new technology actually came from a grant separate from the ICCAP paying for the renovation process (that grant helped put in the new computers in the library).
The process for these massive renovations began in 2009 when the proposal for the grant was being written. After the grant was given, the state began to distribute what will be a total of $5.9 million to St. Xavier University.
As the state has been distributing the money one chunk at a time, after these renovations $1.1 million will be left.
When asked what will be done with the remaining money, Mr. Vargas mentioned potential renovations to the front of the library as well as work done in McGuire Hall and other areas. Nothing is set in stone yet, according to Mr. Vargas, as the plans keep changing with the curriculums and needs of the school.
Construction on the L-wing renovations begins on February 15 and are predicted to be finished on August 9.
Brian Laughran
News Contributer