Martha Walker, Architecture Librarian and Coordinator of Collections
Cornell University Library

On a beautiful Friday afternoon in late October, a small group of Cornell University’s Fine Arts Library (CUL) staff and affiliates participated in a hard-hat tour of the emerging Mui Ho Fine Arts Library (FAL).

The renovated facility, designed by Cornell alumnus Wolfgang Tschapeller, will be complete by summer 2019, with staff and materials moving back into Rand Hall before the start of the fall semester.

Although plans have been in the works for years, the physical renovation of the 1911 building began in fall 2017. Library staff are occupying a temporary location in a neighboring facility for the duration of the project, and all but one percent of the FAL’s holdings were shifted temporarily to off-site storage. I’ll note that it has been an interesting 18 months for both staff and patrons. It is also important to recognize what an excellent job CUL’s Library Annex and Shipping staff have done, making twice daily deliveries to the FAL’s temporary location.

Please enjoy these beautiful photographs, taken by ARLIS/NA member Susette Newberry. There will be more information on this project in various library and architecture news outlets. Here is the link to the official project website.