Architectural Data and Facts

Current location

5730 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637
The Library is near the center of campus, on the west side of the Science Quadrangle

Merger agreement: April 13, 1981
Groundbreaking ceremony: October 4, 1982
Closing of Crerar services at 35 West 33rd Street: July 31, 1984
Opening day: September 10, 1984
Dedication: November 1, 1984

New Crerar Library: A Building That Succeeds In Function And Esthetics.  By Paul Gapp.  Chicago Tribune, May 19, 1985

Architects

The Stubbins Associates of Cambridge, Massachusetts
Loebl, Schlossman, and Hackl of Chicago (associate architects)

Construction Manager:

Schal Associates of Chicago

Structure

The four-story structure is rectangular in shape and houses mechanical rooms, compact shelving, a conference room, and general library facilities on the three above-ground levels. Library staff work areas are concentrated on the main floor. The exterior of the building is horizontal in organization and mass, but the details of the design reflect the vertical character of the original gothic campus. The entire facade is limestone (supplied by Harding & Cogswell of Bedford, Indiana) and recalls the fenestration of the older buildings on campus. The upper floor cantilevers eleven feet beyond the lower floors.

Significant Stylistic Features

A skylight in the central three-story atrium introduces natural light to the building while giving the library patron a sense of the library's physical plan. Suspended in the atrium is a sculpture of aluminum and Waterford crystal by Chicago artist John David Mooney. A freestanding limestone entry arch in the Tudor style complements the architectural style of the original campus. Crerar's motto, the University's motto, and the name of the building were carved in stone by Galloy and Van Etten, Inc., of Chicago

Crerar motto

Non est mortuus qui scientiam vivificavit (translation: "He has not died who has given life to knowledge")

Size

160,836 gross square feet of floor space. Approximate east-west dimension: 135 feet. Approximate north-south dimension: 294 feet.

Costs

Approximately $22 million, including all fees, equipment, furniture, landscaping, site preparation, moving and other costs.

Sources of Funds

The John Crerar Library, foundations, corporations, individuals, and University revenue. A roster of principal donors is permanently located in the atrium of the Library.

Book Capacity

Original capacity of 1.3 million volumes. 770,000 volumes on 27 miles of conventional shelving from the Library Bureau; 530,000 volumes on 12 miles of movable compact shelving from the Space Saver Corporation. In the mid 1990's an additional installation of compact shelving was installed, increasing the shelving capacity from original.

Seating Capacity

At the time the library opened, there were 650 seats for readers, including 182 on the main floor, 212 on the second, 220 on the third, and 36 on the lower level. Subsequent renovations have replaced some of the reader seating with computer classrooms on the main floor.

Furnishings and Equipment:

Library tables and carrels from the Library Bureau are light oak to match the interior finishes. Study chairs are by Thonet; office furnishings are from Steelcase.

Flooring

Granite floors in the atrium and main staircase areas are from Cold Springs Granite Company of Cold Springs, Minnesota. Most staff offices, reference, and reading areas use carpeting supplied by Patrick Carpet Mills. Vinyl composition tile is in bookstacks and technical services areas. The exterior granite stairs are from the Texas Granite Corporation of Marble Falls, Texas.

Lighting

Incandescent lighting is in office and study areas. In the book stacks, timed fluorescent lights are at right angles to shelves to allow changes in stack spacing. All lights were manufactured by Garcy Lighting Company of Chicago. Significant modernization of lighting was done in 2013, replacing the incandescent lighting in study areas with compact fluorescent bulbs and fixtures and installing motion activated switches to improve energy efficiency.

Heating and Air Conditioning

A high-efficiency variable air volume design uses four separate fans to provide unusual flexibility and economy.

Security

An adaptable, multi-function system provides continuous protection of people and library materials from fire, theft, and vandalism. It also provides surveillance and traffic control of selected areas. It was designed by Gage-Babcock & Associates and was installed by Forest Security Systems. One component of the system uses 3-M's equipment for book theft detection.

Building Renovations Since 1984:

Several significant building renovations have taken place since the John Crerar Library first opened its doors in September 1984. In 1998, an additional 21,000 linear feet of compact shelving with a capacity of approximately 175,000 volumes was added on the lower level of the library. A collaborative project with campus IT resulted in a computer cluster and classroom facility located on the lower level of the library where a public canteen and staff workspaces had previously been located. This facility operated until 2012. The space was renovated again and is now home to a graphic arts and printing operation, as well as a computer classroom used for library workshops, classes and training.  In 2008, a former microforms reading room was repurposed to create the Kathleen A. Zar Room, a technology-equipped teaching and learning space. The first floor of the library was recarpeted in 2013. A new roof, including modern energy efficient skylights and lighting for the Crystara sculpture was completed in 2014.