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Engineering Leadership Community

Engineering Librarian & CAPLA Liaison

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Paula C Johnson
Contact:
Main Library A403
520-621-9862

Future of Academic Research Libraries

You may not be here to see the way UA Libraries are transformed into the Student Success District. However the SSD is illustrative of the direction in which  academic libraries are going. With the rise of digital content, space becomes a valuable asset, to be refashioned into maker labs, data visualization studios, collaborative study rooms, research galleries, etc. Academic libraries are transitioning from being a collection of physical materials to offering a complete suite of research resources and services, staffed by experts ready to assist and guide you.

CUTTING-EDGE SPACES, TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES

Example of the Student Success District design
The Student Success District is a joint initiative between the UA Libraries and Student Success and Retention Innovation, Student Engagement and Career Development, and Campus Life programs in the UA Provost’s Office. The Design-Build Team is made up of Sundt Construction, architectural firms Poster, Frost, Mirto, and Miller Hull, as well as Ten Eyck Landscape Architects.

In 2019, the university begins construction to transform the Main Library, the Albert B. Weaver Science-Engineering Library, Bear Down Gym, and a new four-story student success building into an interconnected district that will empower generations of students. Outdoor patios and walkways will become more than connections between buildings; they will provide unique spaces for everything from collaboration to meditation.

The UA learning experience extends outside of the classroom for every student. The Student Success District is the place that will drive students’ 24/7 development through an array of services and spaces based on collaborative, hands-on learning with deep technological engagement.

Scheduled for completion in 2021, this distinctive project brings together the UA’s commitment to academic excellence, student support, health and wellness and the preparation students need to become leaders in the modern workplace.

Inspired by the design of technology company campuses, the District will encourage students to move seamlessly between spaces that provide a full range of services and expertise allowing them to reach their academic and career goals.