On the north side of the UC Berkeley campus, a popular library is whirring back to life.
On June 23, after a two-year closure, the Engineering Library opened its doors, welcoming students back into its spaces. The library had been shuttered for the bold renovation and expansion of its longtime home, the building now known as the Grimes Engineering Center. The new campus hub — designed to foster a spirit of collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation — hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony in April.
During the closure, the Engineering Library merged with the Mathematics Statistics Library, which was located in neighboring Evans Hall. The two libraries are now united under the same roof and with a new name: the Kresge Engineering & Mathematical Sciences Library. About half of the former Mathematics Statistics Library’s print materials are housed in the merged library. The rest are held at the University of California’s systemwide library facilities in Richmond and Los Angeles, and can be requested for delivery to libraries across UC’s campuses.
Although the Engineering Library was not the focus of the renovation, it stands to benefit from the building’s upgrades. Improvements include updated network cables, providing faster and more reliable internet service, and an improved air-cooling system, allowing for better climate control within the library and throughout the building. About half of the library’s furniture was refreshed in anticipation of the reopening.
The renovation project, entirely funded by philanthropy, added more than 35,500 square feet and two floors to the building, formerly known as the Bechtel Engineering Center. Students visiting the library can also easily access amenities in the Grimes Engineering Center, such as its ample collaborative space, same-day reservable huddle rooms, and advising and tutoring services. The building’s exposed structural features surround students with examples of engineering in action, from connections to gussets to a rod-hung stairway.
The Engineering Library continues to provide access to materials required for students’ courses, books and journals in physical and digital form, spaces for studying late into the evening, and reservable rooms for groups. Visitors can also get help from librarians, who can field a range of research questions with care and expertise.
In celebration of its return, the Engineering Library is featuring a display that highlights reading recommendations from engineering students. At the start of the fall semester, the library will offer tours of the space.
“We’re thrilled to welcome students back to the revitalized Kresge Engineering & Mathematical Sciences Library,” said Brian Quigley, head of the UC Berkeley Library’s Sciences Division. “Whether you are seeking study space, collaboration opportunities, research materials, or inspiration, the library is here for you!”