UCSB Debuts $58.5 Million Library Renovation
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) unveiled a $58.5 million renovation to Davidson Library in August. The upgrades were designed to enhance teaching, learning and research at the university as well as accommodate the growing student population.
The university’s staff was involved in the renovation process from the early planning stages through the end of construction. “The administration had a grand vision for the space in terms of layout and use, and they worked closely with the design team and ourselves to ensure that every square inch of the project was utilized in a manner that would positivity impact the student experience,” said Brett Curry, vice president for Pasadena, Calif.-based C.W. Driver Companies, which completed construction on the project. “Everything from security to the flow of areas to the temperature and comfort controls were continually tweaked and updated as the project advanced to ensure that the latest technology and user feed back was incorporated.”
The renovation included fire and life safety upgrades, seismic retrofits and other renovations to bring the existing library up to code. Additionally, it added collaborative spaces, a café and open-air study spaces. Another key part of the project — a 62,000-square-foot, three-story building addition to the north of the library — was designed to house the university’s Special Research Collections, a collection of rare artifacts and unique materials for students, faculty and other scholars to use. The collection includes priceless items such as a Gutenberg Bible and an original casting of President Lincoln’s face and is housed in a concrete section of the building, with no windows and limited access points.
C.W. Driver Companies had to carefully consider the space’s requirements for tight humidity and temperature controls, which are regulated by dedicated HVAC units and a large desiccant wheel dehumidifier. A cold room, similar to a walk-in refrigerator, and a vault area were also included in the project to house the most sensitive and valuable items.
“The library building had to remain in complete, 24/7 operation for the majority of the project,” said Jeff Marshall, project manager for C.W. Driver. “Special protocols were put into place for certain books, [to which patrons] had limited access during construction. If the book was requested, specially trained staff members would enter sealed off portions of the construction site to access it.”
Project phasing required careful planning so that the special collections could remain in their old location until the new building was completed, at which point the items were securely moved into their new home. “The university took extensive care in planning and executing the movement of the Special Research Collections’ items to their new location,” Marshall said. “Countless hours were spent discussing the protocol of the move, as well as discussing potential pitfalls to ensure that plans were in place to avoid them.”
The project achieved LEED Gold certification, making it the 25th LEED-certified building on the UCSB campus. C.W. Driver Companies made an effort to optimize energy efficiency, improve indoor environmental quality and maximize the use of sustainable and local resources. The project featured a glass-walled, three-story paseo that was built to act as a gateway, connecting all parts of the library to the rest of the campus.
C.W. Driver Companies also used chilled beams as part of the HVAC system to provide temperature control while reducing energy usage. Indoor water fixtures that use 38 percent less water than standard fixtures were also included, and 70 percent of the landscaping is irrigated with recycled water.