Students, university want more study space in campus renovations

A campus master plan, once completed, could bring major changes to the University of South Dakota campus, particularly at the I.D. Weeks Library.

In early 2013, USD hired JBA Incorporated, an architectural firm that specializes in facilities planning services for institutions in higher education, to do a space analysis on which buildings need space and conditional improvements, classroom analysis and program issues.

Dean of Libraries Dan Daily said his main priorities are more collaborative study space and areas with less distractions.

He said surveys and comments show students would prefer a quieter study environment. He also has data that shows many students are unable to check out the study rooms that are already available, because they are often full.

Senior Chris Zimmer said he likes how the library is presently set up, and takes advantage of the third floor’s “silent zone” to study.

“The current layout benefits different learning styles and different learning needs,” Zimmer said. “If you need to do group work, you have access to so much on the first and second floors. If you need to zone out, really focus or cram, head to the top.”

Sophomore Kristyn Bahr spends four to five days out of the week studying on the third floor. She said she’s able to get more done since students aren’t constantly coming and going like on the first floor.

“It’s less distracting,” Bahr said.

Bahr said the lack of outlets on the third and second floors are a big studying obstacle.

“It’s frustrating because you can’t go to a table all day,” she said.

More study rooms would also be helpful, especially during finals, Bahr said.

First-year Jordan Hanson studies in the library two to three days out of the week. She spends most of her time on the second and third floors.

Hanson said the first-floor setup is inconvenient for group study and could use more study space.

“I don’t think there’s enough space allocated appropriately,” Hanson said.

Graduate student Ashley White is president of the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) and has heard other grad students say it can often be hard to focus while studying in the library.

Although the second and third floors offer quieter study areas, there aren’t as many computers or printers as on the first floor, which makes it difficult for graduate students who need certain computer programs not on their personal computers, White said.

“It’d be good to have all the resources in one area,” White said. “It just depends on if it would affect the efficiency of studying.”

Daily has met with GPSA to get their feedback on library needs. White said she know changes will take time, but she appreciates the communication.

“It’s nice to know they’re willing to accommodate students,” White said.

Some recommendations made by JBA Inc. involve moving the math emporium, testing center and South Dakota Oral History Center to the library.

Zimmer said he does not think the moves are necessary and doesn’t want to see any important library resources moved, which he believes are already underused by the student body.

Bahr said because many first-years utilize the Math Emporium, it should stay near North Complex. She doesn’t see how there would be enough room left for studying, unless some major changes were made.

“I feel like there’d be absolutely no room,” Bahr said.

Neither a specific plan or budget for the library has been decided, as Daily said suggestions from JBA Inc. last May regarding the library are still being prioritized. But likely renovations will involve maximizing space, like another student service taking place in the student-athlete center during slower hours, and more ports and screens being incorporated into study tables, according to a previous Volante article published in February.

“University leadership is kind of trying to figure out what the priorities are out of the campus master plan, where do they begin and how much money do we have as a university to move forward on different renovation and different building projects,” Daily said.

Renovations to the library will likely last over a year once they start, Daily said. The noisiest construction will be completed during summer, but students will still encounter some construction noise during the year.

“It does get disruptive, (but) there’s really no way to avoid it,” Daily said.

JBA Inc. found USD needs rearranged space, not necessarily more space. Their suggestions include relocating several programs and constructing new facilities. A PowerPoint presentation with their space analysis review results may be found on the USD website.

Dates, funding and other details of the campus master plan have not yet been decided, according to Roberta Ambur, vice president of Administration and Technology.

The changes to USD’s campus JBA Inc. recommended are still being evaluated and prioritized, Ambur said.

“The complete evaluation should be complete by the end of next summer,” Ambur said. “I’m hoping by then we will have scaled down scope where needed, and a list of projects to be complete with a timeline.”

(Photo: Sophomores Leslie Terwilliger and Megan Kress study on the second floor of the I.D. Weeks library Monday afternoon. A campus master plan being worked on by JBA Incorporated may bring changes to the library once completed. Malachi Petersen / The Volante)