GGC celebrates library ribbon cutting

July 22 - GeorgiaGwinnettCollege celebrated the completion of its new, state-of-the-art Library and LearningCenter with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. More than 200 faculty, staff, students and members of the Gwinnett community attended the event, which featured the first official tours of the new facility.

“In many ways, the Library and LearningCenter represents the hallmarks of a GGC education. Its very design blends technology with active, collaborative learning and its role will strengthen the connection between our students and the community,” said GGC President Daniel J. Kaufman. “This facility will not only serve students and faculty, but also will welcome the community as a regional resource, educational facility and common gathering space.”

The $28.3 million, 95,370 square-foot building features a three-story, curtain wall of windows and square arches that make a strong architectural statement. The wall of windows encloses an atrium with views of the campus’ central quad and signature building. The atrium houses the “information commons,” a large study area wired to power for students’ laptop computers as they work individually or in groups.

The Library and LearningCenter is designed to house 300,000 volumes and a fusion of digital and print library holdings. It will offer self-check services, and its inventory will be managed by an electronic tag system not often provided in collegiate libraries.

The building contains technologically advanced classrooms, a presentation practice room, 38 private study rooms, a seminar room, a quiet reading room and a coffee shop. The college’s Center for Teaching Excellence and Student Success program also will occupy the facility.

The Library and LearningCenter will host a variety of meetings, readings, lectures and other events. The seminar room will seat up to 250 and exits onto a balcony that overlooks the quad.

“We designed this building with a flexibility of form and function that will enable it to serve GeorgiaGwinnettCollege’s students well into the 21st Century,” said Kaufman. “It will be an important educational activity hub for Gwinnett and for Georgia.”

The new Library and LearningCenter is funded through the state’s general obligation bond package; $28.3 million was appropriated by the Georgia General Assembly in 2007.

“Georgia Gwinnett’s new Library and LearningCenter will be a major asset to the college and the students,” Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville) said following the ceremony. “Not only is it a beautiful structure, but an extraordinary learning facility that will serve our community well for years to come.”

"We are extremely grateful to the members of the Board of Regents, Sen. Balfour and our entire legislative delegation," Kaufman said. "Their support of GGC has been tremendous over the years and I hope that every time they visit this campus, they see this Library and LearningCenter and take pride in the part they played in building this college."

The current library, now located in the college’s signature, administrative building, will begin moving into the new facility next week. Several days later, a delivery of new books will double the total library holdings. The new facility will open its doors in mid-August.

The Library and LearningCenter is one of three major construction projects that will be completed for fall semester 2010.

GGC recently completed its first student residence halls and will welcome its first student residents shortly before classes begin Aug. 23. Just over 4,000 students have been enrolled and the college is still in the process of registering more than 1,000 admitted students for an expected total fall semester enrollment of 5,200 by mid-August. Of these students, about 1,000 can be housed in the residence halls.

The StudentCenter will be fully completed later this fall, but its dining facilities will open in time for the resident students’ arrival.

Quick Facts

• Design Professional:  Leo A. Daly Company
• Contractor:  The Potts Company
• GSFIC Project Manager: Andrew Morton
• GSFIC Contract Compliance Specialist: Steve Forman