Beginning on July 1, Atkins Library's tower will close for significant renovations to enhance the safety and comfort of students, faculty, staff, alumni, retired employees and friends of the University.
The renovations include replacing the tower elevators, upgrades to the fire alarm and smoke control systems and transforming the study spaces on floors five through 10. The project is expected to be completed by December 2025. The North Carolina General Assembly provided funding for the project.
Special Collections and University Archives
Beginning in July 2024, and lasting for approximately 18 months, the reading room and service point for special collections and university archives on the 10th floor will close, and many special collections materials will be in secure storage and unavailable for use.
Atkins Library will offer research and instruction services for those special collections that continue to be available. These services will be by appointment in a location on the first floor.
Questions about the impact of these changes on research, teaching and learning can be sent to spec-coll@charlotte.edu.
Tower Floors Five through 10
The elevators that serve floors G through 10 will be taken out of service, and floors five through 10 will be closed, including the stairs. The elevator that serves floors G through three will continue to operate and the stairs for those floors will be open for use.
Other impacts
While quiet study seating will be inaccessible in the tower beginning in May 2024 through the duration of the project, additional seats will be added to floors G through three, nearly totaling what was available in the tower. Currently, the west side of the 3rd floor (overlooking the SAC) is designated for quiet study. There are also silent study areas on the ground floor in the compact shelving room and on the first floor in the Graduate and Silent Study Room.
The Cone University Center offers study space closest to Atkins, and the “After Hours” lounge is typically a quieter space in the evenings. Cone is generally open M-F 7 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sat & Sun 12 p.m.-11 p.m.
The Popp Martin Student Union has significant open seating, as well as newly-available seating in Social 704, which is open during building hours. The Popp Martin Student Union’s hours are 7 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to midnight, Saturday and Sunday.
Study seating is also available at the Hight Architecture Library on the 2nd floor of Storrs. Hight is open M-F 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Questions about the impacts of these renovations can be directed to Stephen Weiter, interim dean of the library at sweiter@charlotte.edu or 704-687-0145.