“We are grateful to the Board of Regents for approving the project, to the university for its support, and especially to our students, who voted with their fees for expanded and improved library spaces and services,” said Jeff Steely, dean of libraries at Georgia State. “Right now, we are putting the finishing touches on the new, state-funded Library North entrance, with its wonderful outdoor rooftop terrace. This adjacent, ground-level space will add much needed indoor capacity. The Study Commons also offers a terrific opportunity for alumni and friends to support our students and recognize a loved one with a naming gift.”
The new area is designed as a quiet study room, flexible and active collaboration areas, group study rooms, and meeting spaces. The Study Commons will also double the number of gender-neutral, single-occupant restrooms on campus and a wellness room specifically designed for new mothers. The area will have a separate secure entrance that allows the students to request additional late night and weekend hours.
Jeff Steely also said that the new facility would efficiently use valuable real estate and support to enhance the library’s visual appeal and the surrounding neighborhood.
“An important part of this project is making better use of existing space,” he said. “This project will see an inefficient parking lot become a center for student learning and collaboration, with expanded hours and a casual, coffee shop vibe. Our hope is to include lots of windows, making a connection with the greenway and Collins Street.”
The Board of Regents will select an architecture firm this summer to design the facility, with its construction scheduled to start in 2022.