On March 29, the Smith College Neilson Library, on the Northampton, Mass., campus of Smith College, reopened to students after a four-year, $120 million renovation and expansion that reimagine the library’s 200,000 sf, in the conception of its architectural designer Maya Lin, as an intellectual commons.
Maya Lin Studios teamed with principal architect Shepley Bulfinch and the construction management firm Shawmut Design & Construction on what was Smith College’s largest capital project in a decade.
Also see: A video tour of the completed library here.
The original Smith College library opened in 1909 and had gone through three rounds of renovation before this current project, which included replacing wings that blocked the view of this Berkshires-nestled campus (designed by Frederick Law Olmstead) with two new wings that have a curved, light-filled design made from masonry, wood, and glass.
An oculus provides natural light throughout the library's four floors.
The original building now forms the library’s core whose spacious atrium is illuminated by a four-story oculus. The central floor offers a massive reading area, and the building features flexible and collaborative workspaces, classrooms, contemplative study areas, a sunken courtyard, and event spaces that include an accessible outdoor amphitheater. On the fourth floor, a Skyline Terrace provides sweeping views and an outdoor patio.
Bringing Smith College Neilson Library Into the 21st Century
One of two wings, made of masonry, wood, and glass, that were added to the library's original building.
There’s a Digital Media Hub where students can record podcasts, videos and other media; self-service labs where students can use technologies, such as spatial analysis, gaming software, survey software, and GIS; a User Experience Lab for research and usability testing; and access to large-format and 3D printers, as well as other creativity tools.
The north wing is filled with spaces to support active learning and scholarship, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The south wing brings together special collections—40,000 lineal ft of archival materials—into one climate-controlled space.
“Our team brought to life a groundbreaking vision, one which honors Smith College’s rich history and tradition while providing bespoke capabilities that will serve generations of future students with the latest in sustainability and technology,” says Ron Simoneau, Shawmut’s Executive Vice President.
As part of this project, the nearby Alumnae Gym was renovated and connected to Neilson Library by an interior walkway. Edwina von Gal with Ryan Associates designed the surrounding exterior landscaping.
Neilson Library’s sustainability aspects include a high-performance building envelope, advanced daylighting strategies, and materials that promote health and wellness. The building also has the ability to become an all-electric complex and is pursuing LEED V.4 Gold certification.
Related Stories
| Oct 23, 2013
Gehry, Foster join Battersea Power Station redevelopment
Norman Foster and Frank Gehry have been selected to design a retail section within the £8 billion redevelopment of Battersea Power Station in London.
| Oct 18, 2013
Researchers discover tension-fusing properties of metal
When a group of MIT researchers recently discovered that stress can cause metal alloy to fuse rather than break apart, they assumed it must be a mistake. It wasn't. The surprising finding could lead to self-healing materials that repair early damage before it has a chance to spread.
| Oct 15, 2013
Cass Gilbert's landmark St. Louis Central Library gets a reboot
A $70 million project returns large sections of the building to their original Beaux Arts beauty, while modernizing the spaces to make them more inviting and useful for today’s patrons.
| Sep 19, 2013
What we can learn from the world’s greenest buildings
Renowned green building author, Jerry Yudelson, offers five valuable lessons for designers, contractors, and building owners, based on a study of 55 high-performance projects from around the world.
| Sep 19, 2013
6 emerging energy-management glazing technologies
Phase-change materials, electrochromic glass, and building-integrated PVs are among the breakthrough glazing technologies that are taking energy performance to a new level.
| Sep 19, 2013
Roof renovation tips: Making the choice between overlayment and tear-off
When embarking upon a roofing renovation project, one of the first decisions for the Building Team is whether to tear off and replace the existing roof or to overlay the new roof right on top of the old one. Roofing experts offer guidance on making this assessment.
| Sep 16, 2013
Study analyzes effectiveness of reflective ceilings
Engineers at Brinjac quantify the illuminance and energy consumption levels achieved by increasing the ceiling’s light reflectance.
| Sep 11, 2013
BUILDINGChicago eShow Daily – Day 3 coverage
Day 3 coverage of the BUILDINGChicago/Greening the Heartland conference and expo, taking place this week at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza.
| Sep 10, 2013
BUILDINGChicago eShow Daily – Day 2 coverage
The BD+C editorial team brings you this real-time coverage of day 2 of the BUILDINGChicago/Greening the Heartland conference and expo taking place this week at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza.
| Aug 26, 2013
What you missed last week: Architecture billings up again; record year for hotel renovations; nation's most expensive real estate markets
BD+C's roundup of the top construction market news for the week of August 18 includes the latest architecture billings index from AIA and a BOMA study on the nation's most and least expensive commercial real estate markets.