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.
UIndy announced March 2 that construction will begin in May and finish when the fall semester starts in August. A dedication is set for Oct. 3 during homecoming festivities.
As part of the improvements, the interior will be reconfigured for greater flexibility, with enhanced digital connectivity and more room 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,” President Robert Manuel said in a statement.
Opened in 1977, Krannert is named for late industrialist and philanthropist Herman C. Krannert, whose Krannert Charitable Trust helped fund construction.
The project’s architect is Ratio Architects; the construction manager is F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co. Both are locally based.
The ongoing $50 million investment in the campus and surrounding neighborhood includes a four-story health pavilion opening in August, townhomes to replace aging student apartments, and upgraded science labs.•
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