As I’m sure you've noticed, the sixth floor Department of Library
and Information Sciences has been receiving a face-lift over the past two
months. This project, begun under the vision of former dean Toni Carbo,
is part of an overall scheme to give greater visibility to the department
and greater workspace to students. The work began at the start of the
fall semester and should be completed by the end of the term.
In order to find out about the construction on the sixth floor and how this
construction ties in to other work at SIS, I spoke with Theresa Benedek, Assistant
to the Dean. According to Benedek, the construction is focused on the
first, second, and sixth floors of SIS. The sixth floor is being renovated
to create an administrative office located immediately across from the elevators.
This space will house offices for Chris Tomer, Marcy Walls, Janie Weaver,
and Sue Alman. Increased signage will provide better direction for
prospective and new students. Instead of students needing to exit the
elevators, turn right, and walk down the hallway to reach these offices,
the personnel will be immediately available. The completion date for
this work is scheduled for the end of this month.
The first and second floor renovations are aimed at creating multipurpose
space for students, faculty, and staff. The new lobby on the first floor--where
the tables and snack machines are now--will remain as study and socializing
space for students, as conceptualized by Carbo in her original plan for SIS.
This lobby space will eventually receive new tables and chairs, a coffee
machine, a monitor to check email, and possibly two easy chairs. The
space in front of the main doors will receive a new table and chairs and
will contain a kiosk with information about events and a directory of faculty
and staff. The new room across from the elevators is planned as multipurpose
space. A divider will allow the space to become two small conference
rooms or classrooms. Alternately, the divider can be left open, allowing
the room and the lounge to host larger receptions and meetings.
The second floor currently houses the former student lounge, with a small
refrigerator and two microwaves. The refrigerator and microwaves will
remain on the second floor, but the rooms formerly reserved as the student
lounge will be converted into additional multipurpose space, complete with
a large conference table. An undergraduate programming support space
(computer lab) will also be constructed on the second floor. The multipurpose
space will be completed once the stored furniture now in the room is returned
to the sixth floor.
The construction at SIS was undertaken by the Office of Facility Management
at the university in partnership with the firm of W.T.W. Architects.
Ongoing construction may be undertaken as the university approves funding.
As Theresa Benedek said, the construction is based on an attempt to "do many
things with the small amount of space we have."
Publication of the Department of Library &
Information Science
University of Pittsburgh
135 N. Bellefield Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Last updated October 30, 2002