Overview
Completed in fall 2018, renovations provide a vibrant new home in the John Crerar Library building for the Department of Computer Science and the Center for Data and Applied Computing. Included as well are renovated library spaces to provide a range of research services for faculty and students on campus. Combined, these efforts transformed the building into an exciting campus hub for collaboration, instruction, research and support, especially around computing and data science.
The work on the building’s top two floors created a state-of-the-art academic space including closed and open offices, conference rooms, spaces for experimental research, graduate student offices and a large gathering area for departmental seminars, workshops and distinguished speaker lectures. The design created an interactive environment to support the collaborative integration of the Department of Computer Science with the Center for Data and Applied Computing and anticipated the changing needs of the department. Windows have been added to the building’s façade on the top floor and skylights to the roof in order to allow natural light into the deep floor plan. On the first floor, the Computer Science Instructional Laboratory was expanded to accommodate growing student interest and demand for Computer Science course offerings.
The first floor continues to serve users of the John Crerar Library. A café was built as part of the renovated lobby to provide an energizing place for informal interactions. These alterations, together with collaborative spaces and teaching/seminar spaces, make the first floor a focal point for faculty and students across the University interested in learning, experimenting and working with new software, technologies, and programs around data science such as geographic information systems or GIS; collaborating on innovative and emerging programs around data-driven discovery and digital media; and accessing information and research resources.
For more information on this project, visit UChicago News.
Project Team
Architect: Payette Associates, Inc
Construction Manager: Bulley & Andrews, LLC
Project Manager: Jennifer Robles
Milestones
March 2017: Demolition start
June 2017: Construction start
October 2018: Occupancy
Photos
Natural light floods the reconfigured third floor space.
New exterior with third story windows installed. Picture taken 04/24/18
Under construction view looking south east toward the UChicago Bookstore. Picture taken 04/24/18
Under construction view looking south east from the new third floor windows toward Hinds Geophysics Lab. Picture taken 04/24/18
Under construction view of the new stairwell leading to the third floor. Picture taken 04/24/18