Knowledge Center Now 80% Complete
Construction is progressing well on the Knowledge Center at UNR, as shown in late August 2007. (Photo by: Ted Cook, TLT)
Thursday, September 6, 2007
By: Jan Jones
The largest construction project in University history is now nearing completion at UNR. Only about a year ago, in May 2006, the foundation for this 5-story, 295,000-square foot building was poured; by late last month, local contractor Q&D Construction called it 80 percent complete ... on time and on budget.
Of course, once actual construction is completed, building systems still must be commissioned, furniture and equipment installed, and over 1 million volumes of books and journals moved.
The Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center, which opens next fall, will be one of the most technologically advanced libraries in the country. It features an automated book retrieval system, state-of-the-art viewing and listening areas, computing labs with high-end hardware and software, and Smart Classrooms with the latest computing and a/v technology.
But this classical brick building with its soaring central atrium will also offer the best of traditional library services along with gracious reading rooms, a 180-seat auditorium, art gallery, sculpture garden, special exhibit areas, and coffee shop.
Construction Milestones
• Ceremonial Groundbreaking: Sept. 9, 2005
• Start of Construction: March 2006
• Foundation poured: May 5-6, 2006
• Steel framing installed: Spring 2007
• Exterior brick completed: Fall 2007
• Interior construction to be complete: Winter-Spring 2007-08
• Official opening: Fall Semester 2008
Interesting Facts
• Books and journals that receive lighter use will go into the automated retrieval system, opening up more study space for students and more shelf space for heavily-used materials. In fact, it accommodates four times the volume of traditional shelving and retrieves materials in less than 15 minutes.
• Creating the foundation for the Knowledge Center involved the largest continuous concrete pour in northern Nevada history, involving 12 million pounds of concrete ... or 11 miles worth of 4-foot-wide sidewalk. This amazing pour was necessary to support the weight of the automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS).
• Construction workers mastered a 620-yard concrete pour from 60 feet in the air to construct the concrete beam bridging the massive entry columns. The complete beam is 150-feet long, 15-feet tall, and 5-feet, 8-inches wide.
• Over 400 area craftsmen, including masons, iron workers, carpenters and concrete workers will have worked on the Knowledge Center construction project by the time the building is open.
• From the center of the first floor of the Knowledge Center, you look up 77 feet to the ceiling. The atrium’s volume is 442,800 cubic feet, which could hold over 6 billion jelly beans!
• The total structure incorporates 21,000 cubic yards of concrete. To acquire this concrete required 2,110 truckloads of concrete, all poured at night. The building will use enough concrete to build a 4-inch-deep, 4-foot-wide sidewalk all the way to Lovelock! Other materials include 3,600 tons of steel and 65 miles of electrical conduit!
Related Links
Knowledge Center 3D Fly Through video and photo gallery
