Extraordinary things are here at the D. H. Hill Jr. Library
A major renovation of the D. H. Hill Jr. Library was completed in 2020, including a comprehensive renovation of the second and third floors and the addition of an open stairwell that connects those floors with the Ask Us lobby and floods the spaces with natural light. The renovation features the Academic Success Center and technology-rich Libraries spaces, making the Hill Library NC State's one-stop hub for learning, teaching, research, collaboration, and experimentation.
Discover more information about the renovation: See and Do at the New Hill Library.
New and Updated Library Spaces
Innovation Studio
Located on the second floor in the south tower, the Innovation Studio is part teaching space and part interactive exhibit, showcasing student and faculty work at NC State. It serves as a venue to display and demonstrate emerging technologies such as augmented and virtual reality, machine learning, projection mapping, and the Internet of Things.
Cyma Rubin Visualization Gallery
The existing small Cyma Rubin Visualization Gallery on the second floor has been relocated to the third floor of the north tower. The new, larger space includes a truly circular projection surface and immersive, 360-degree projection.
Data Experience Lab
The Data Experience Lab is a collaborative, community-oriented space for data science, visualization, digital scholarship, and analytics. Students and researchers from all disciplines can advance their skills through workshops and walk-in consultations. Located on the third floor of the south tower, the space includes reservable workstations with the processing power and software needed for data analysis, digital scholarship, and visualization.
THE GRAND STAIRCASE
The Brickyard Entrance features an open grand staircase that leads from the ground floor to the first, second, and third floors. Flanked by a four-story window to the west and mezzanine seating to the north and east, this design element floods the lower floors of the Hill Library with natural light and vastly improves wayfinding to the bookstacks.
THE HILLSBOROUGH STREET ENTRANCE
Closed for nearly thirty years, the Hillsborough Street entrance is the Hill Library’s new front door. It features new sliding glass doors that open onto a freshly landscaped terrace and lawn along Founders Drive, and convenient access to Wolfline bus stops. For assistance, please call Ask Us at 919-515-3364.
The Academic Success Center and the Office of Undergraduate Research
The Academic Success Center
Located on the second floor in the north tower, the Academic Success Center features the University Tutorial Center with tutoring, writing, and speaking services, and offers some career counseling and academic advising services. During late evening and overnight hours, most of this space, including five group study rooms, are available for general use.
The Office of Undergraduate Research
The Office of Undergraduate Research has relocated to the Hill Library. It supports and promotes discovery, inquiry, scholarship and creativity-based opportunities through mentored experiences with NC State faculty and other national and international scholars and professionals.
About the Renovation
Construction Highlights
Highlights from the Hill Library Renovation.
A stained and battered page from a page-a-day calendar for January 1, 1966 discovered stuck to the floor during stacks demolition.
A gaping hole crisscrossed with steel girders is all that remains of the portions of the second and third floors where the new stairway will be built. "Danger Hole" warns a spraypainted sign.
Mid-demolition, the treads of the old main stairs have been removed, and the stringers are all that remain.
The newly installed stairway connecting the first, second, and third floors stands against the backdrop of a huge hanging tarp, bathing the scene in an eerie blue glow.
A vantage point from a fourth floor window offers a view that juxtaposes the construction staging area against the very different construction being undertaken for Shack-A-Thon.
Bright red industrial pumps, once used to pump chilled water through the building, await removal from the concrete slabs to which they're bolted.
A shower of orange sparks dances across the floor below a ladder as a welder cuts away steel beams.
Metal wall studs flank a cavity that will eventually be the wall to the new Cyma Rubin Visualization Gallery.
The Academic Success Center begins to take shape on the second floor of the Hill Library, as the distinctive architectural flourishes that adorn its ceiling are finished.
Looking down into the dark chasm of a service chase from the fourth floor.
Pre-cast terrazzo treads await installation in the new main staircase.
Hoses snake through the construction area as part of a pipe-flushing process.
A newly installed grand window in the old Hill of Beans area shows off the nearly-complete main staircase.
Wood paneling is installed on a future artwork-display wall.
An accent wall provides a pop of color on the updated fourth floor.
A worker uses articulated construction stilts to facilitate ceiling finish work.
A pile of aggregate awaits a future as terrazzo flooring on the third floor.
The ceiling and the stairs are nearly finished at the entrance to the second floor.
Accent lamps hanging from long cables populate the atrium.
The signature "ribbon" ceiling accent on the second floor nears its finished state.
Glass panels, covered with a protective film, await installation in the banister of the main stairs.
The installation of precast terrazzo treads on the main stairs is nearly complete.
A stack of carpet tiles awaits installation on the third floor.
Installation of the carpeting in the future Data Experience Lab is complete.
The first glass panels are installed in the railings overlooking the atrium.
Ceiling strip lights between the columns of the third floor are both functional and visually striking.
A closer look at the atrium's signature accent lamps. Glass railings on the third floor are visible in the background.
The floor of the lobby shimmers with sealant as it is prepared for the terrazzo pouring process.
Acoustic insulation material is installed in the walls that will form the projection surface of the visualization studio.
The view from a construction scaffold: wood paneling is installed over a structural beam on the ceiling of the third floor.
Heavy-duty floor polishing equipment waits at the ready to smooth and polish the terrazzo floors.
Coils of network cabling in the Game Space are ready to be routed to telecom panels.
Sunlight spills over the newly laid terrazzo flooring on the third floor.
The glassed vestibule of the Cyma Rubin Visualization Gallery is complete.
A floor-to-ceiling view of the new atrium, with all lights and paneling in place.
The new horizontal fire shutter between the first and second floors is deployed for testing.
While the interior of the Hill Library is renovated, there are exterior improvements too: the Brickyard stairs receive a facelift.
On the second floor, the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Innovation Studio sport accents in blue.
A decorative planter in front of the Hill Library, fenced into the construction staging area for long months, shows vigorous growth.
A recipe for a Jello salad, written on a page of a 1952 pocket planner, found during elevator upgrades.
Schedule |
Design Phase: Through January 2019 Bidding Phase: January 2019 through May 2019 Construction: May 2019 through June 2020 Project Opening: August 2020 |
Architect |
Lord Aeck Sargent |
Engineers |
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Audiovisual Consultant |
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General Contractor |
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Related Projects |
Updates to the Hillsborough Street entrance in the west wing to be completed by May 2019. This will be the only public entrance to the library during the renovation. |
A History of Renovations
The D. H. Hill Jr. Library over the decades.
1925:
The building originally known as the D. H. Hill Library is constructed, marking...
1953:
Hill Library moved its current location to what is now the east wing of the library.
1954:
The Erdahl-Cloyd Union (now known as the west wing) is constructed.
1954:
Erdahl-Cloyd Union at night.
1970:
After a set of journals and bibliographical works were stolen from the library, including the rare 18th and 19th century botanical journals, a security checkpoint was installed.
1970:
To increase storage space, construction of an 11-story bookstacks tower begins.
1971:
The North Tower of Hill Library opened on March 5, 1971.
1971:
The light mural (now known as the Color Wall) is activated for the first time. The mural was created by Joe Cox, a faculty member in the School of Design.
1990:
The South Tower is added, featuring bookstacks space, a special facilities room, and...
2007:
A major renovation of the east wing of Hill Library is completed, featuring a new Learning Commons, the Exhibit Gallery, and Special Collections Reading Room.
2007:
Special Collections Reading Room.
2010:
A major renovation of the West Wing is a completed, featuring a new Terrace, Silent Reading Room, The Creamery and Cone Zone, and the Technology Sandbox.
2010:
The Creamery.
2010:
The Technology Sandbox.
2010:
The Terrace overlooking the Brickyard.
2015:
The Technology Sandbox is transformed into the Fishbowl Forum, a convertible space for workshops and smaller presentations.
2016:
Former staff office space on the second floor of the West Wing is renovated to create the Faculty Research Commons.
2019:
A significant renovation to create the Academic Success Center and other new spaces kicks off with the reopening of the Hillsborough Street entrance.
2019:
An early rendering of the planned atrium and grand staircase.
2020:
The atrium and grand staircase, nearing completion
