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Simmons Library Renovation

 

FAQs

Where is the off-site storage facility located?

Franklin, MA

How do I know the book or article I requested from off-site storage is on its way?

After successfully requesting an off-site item by using the button in the library catalog, you will receive an email confirmation on the next business day (see example below) that the material has been requested from storage, with the title of the material and date the retrieval request was made. Patrons who do not receive this email should submit their request again.

Date: _____

The material listed below has been requested from renovation storage for you.

TITLE: _____

This email confirms receipt of your request for library materials from the off-site renovation storage facility.

Requests made before 11:59 pm will be processed by Simmons College on the next business day and placed en route from the facility located in Franklin, MA. Barring delivery delay, requests arrive 2 business days after this confirmation email is sent. You will be notified when the material you requested arrives and is ready to be picked up or viewed.

Please reply to this message if you have any questions.

For additional information about a specific request, contact Terra Kallemeyn,
Library Assistant for Technical Services terra.kallemeyn@simmons.edu 617.521.2790

Will parking be affected by the project?

There are about 100 parking spots in the surface lot that are being temporarily lost due to the construction. This should *not* affect student parking. Spaces in the Simmons garage under the Palace Road building will be opened for students. Simmons is renting spaces in nearby lots to accomodate faculty and staff displaced from the garage during construction.

Will the new building be Green/LEED certified?
We are making extensive efforts to follow the U.S. Green Building Council's comprehensive guideline for sustainable building practices through its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (“LEED”) program. The entire Project is not expected to reach LEED certification status, because we have to combine the already existing Lefavour with the new building. However, in the construction of the new building part of the project, the design process will explore areas where sustainable design and sensitivity to environmental concerns can be accomplished. Items currently being explored and studied are water use reduction, commissioning of systems and equipment, optimization of energy performance, heat recovery, light pollution reduction, solar lighting techniques, construction waste management and others.

Will I be able to get from the Main College Building to the new classrooms and new libary without going outside?
Yes, there will be internal connections on the ground floor, from the Student Activities area to the ground level classrooms. There will not be access on the main and second floors of the library, as for security reasons we need to maintain one central entrance to the library. There will also be an internal connection from the third floor of the Main College Building (near the Education Department) directly to the third floor of the new building (to-be-determined office space).

Can we install a bridge from the Science Center to the new library?
In response to requests from the community, we asked our architects to investigate the possibility of creating an internal connection from the Science Center to the new library. Here is their response:
In response to the request from Simmons, we have investigated the possibility of adding a bridge or covered hallway between the Park Science Center and the Main College Building that would provide an internal connection between the two structures. FHCMS does not believe that this action is advisable based on a number of engineering and aesthetic issues:

1. A straight line connection between the two buildings is not possible. A straight connection from the Science Center Lobby would connect to the Lefavour Hall fire stairs. This is not permitted by code. In order to build a connector that is allowable by code, the connection would require either:
• the reconfiguring and rebuilding of the Science Center stair (at a cost of ~$750,000 and significant disruption), or
• an angled, less direct route (also expensive and aesthetically unattractive), or
• making the connection as a raised bridge, and entering the Science Center above the lobby through an existing office.

2. Structurally, a raised bridge cannot be supported by the either building, as the structures for both do not have the capacity to support the additional loading. Therefore, a bridge would need to be self supporting. This would require separate foundations and large four story columns. This would reduce the 32 foot open space between the two structures which presently exists. In responses to the College’s Library project filings (IMPNF/PNF), the Boston Redevelopment Authority specifically expressed the need for Simmons to maintain at least the existing view and access corridors between the existing buildings. It is expected that an enclosed bridge would be 30 to 40 feet in the air, and its supporting structure would significantly reduce the visual and actual space between Lefavour and the Science Center as well as blocking views to the sky. Additionally, the bridge would add shadows to the surrounding area.

3. An additional code concern is the need to maintain a fire separation between the bridge and the existing buildings, which would significantly limit window openings on the connector/bridge, as well as on existing structures adjacent to the bridge. This would severely hamper the aesthetic design of the structure.

4. Additionally, the current architecture of the Science Center does not lend itself well to a piece of architecture or bridge which could be in harmony with what is envisioned for the new Library.

It is our view that a bridge or hallway connection between the Science Center and Lefavour would be difficult to design structurally and aesthetically, and from both a regulatory and aesthetic point of view, would be rejected by the City.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE INTERLIBRARY LOAN OFFICE, AND OTHER LIBRARY OFFICES THAT USED TO BE ON THE FIRST FLOOR?
Most library offices have moved to the third floor:

Office Name Location
Interlibrary Loan L-307
Cataloging L-305
Periodicals L-305
Acquisitions L-305
Collection Development L-305
Systems L-305

What is included in the "library renovation" project?

Library
Archives
Classrooms (6)
Instruction Computer Classrooms (L-102 16 seats, L-103 16 seats, L-402 20 seats)
Public Access Computer Lab
Communications Department

The Library Renovation Team is eager to hear your ideas, concerns and comments throughout the planning process, and as construction progresses. For questions/comments about the project, contact Daphne Harrington (2754), Library Director.

For questions/comments about the site, contact the Megan Fox (2742).

Page updated: December 14, 2006