I     Aline  Locascmo     |
 

storage and retrieval require modern, sophis¬
ticated systems to provide appropriate hea¬
ling, cooling, \'entilation, cabling, power, and
other standard building services.

The need for major renovation of Butler
Librar\' has been recognized bv the campus
community for some time. The 1987 Report of
the Presidential Commission on the future of
Columbia University (Strategies of Renewal) noted
"the painful contrast between [Butler's] phys¬
ical inadequacies and the richness of the
collections." Later that year a committee was
formed to analyze the mechanical systems and
explore feasibility for expansion and renova¬
tion from a structtu^al standpoint. Discussion
of programmatic use of the existing space,
including comparison to industry standards,
together with the technical review revealed
five majoi" problem areas: (1) seriotis dete¬
rioration of the physical plant, (2) insufficient
space, (3) poor use of existing space, (4) inade¬
quate facilities for undergraduate instruction,
and (5) inability to accommodate new and
future technologies.

Planning for the library continued
through I988-I989 within the context of the
development of a campus-wide facilities re¬
newal master plan. Various options for the
renovation of Butler were explored. Expan¬
sions (vertical and underground) and the
relocation of selected activities and services
were considered in addition to the basic reha¬
bilitation of the building. Ultimately it was
determined that all identified programmatic
 

requirements could be met, with the most
effective use of funds, by a comprehensive
renovation of the building. In the
summer of 1989 architects Shepley Bulfinch
Richardson and Abbott were selected to
develop a schematic design for the project
under the guidance of the Butler Renovation
Planning Committee, in consultation with
students, faculty, and stafL

The redesign of Butler seeks to remedy
the five problems identified in the earlier
studies and is flexible to accommodate future
advances in technology and library service.
Much of the fiexibility is achieved through
carcftil provision for expansion and growth in
the commtmications infrastructure and the
implementation of a phased construction
plan. Final furniture and equipment selection
and layout is deferred until each floor is
scheduled for construction. In this way,
state-of-the-art technology and design can
be evaluated just in time for use in the
subsequent phase. Another important focus of
the design is an effort to maintain original
architectural detail. When possible, significant
public spaces will be restored to their initial
grandeiu", highlighting the early twentieth-
century craftsmanship. Only the Rare Book
and Manuscript Library, added to the sixth
fioor of Butler with its own infrastructure in
the 1980s, will remain untouched by construc¬
tion, although the four stack levels housing
the rare book and manuscript collections are
included in the stack renovation.