The University of Indianapolis will spend $5.5 million to renovate its Krannert Memorial Library as part of a larger $50 million investment in the campus, the university announced Monday.
UIndy said construction on the four-story library will begin in May and should be finished when the fall semester starts in August. A dedication ceremony is set for Oct. 3 during the college’s homecoming festivities.
As part of the improvements, the library’s interior will be reconfigured for more flexibility, with enhanced digital connectivity and more options to accommodate private study and group discussion.
New features also will include a ground-floor cafe with food service, an outdoor plaza, a 24-hour study lab and a glass-curtain exterior wall on the east side to provide all three upper floors with natural light.
“The input we’ve gathered in our strategic planning process tells us that the library, which has served us well for decades, could be playing a more vital role in campus life and in the life of this neighborhood that is anchored by the university,” UIndy President Robert Manuel said in a prepared statement.
Opened in 1977, Krannert Memorial Library is named for the late industrialist and philanthropist Herman C. Krannert, whose Krannert Charitable Trust helped fund construction.
The project’s architect is Ratio Architects Inc.; the construction manager is F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co. Inc. Both are locally based.
The $5.5 million renovation is part of the university’s ongoing $50 million investment in the campus and surrounding neighborhood. That includes the four-story health pavilion opening in August, new townhomes to replace aging student apartments, and upgraded science labs.
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