Crews demolish the previous 24-hour study space and staff offices to open up the views to the courtyard.

To create the interconnecting central stair, Elaine Construction had to cut through the concrete slab on the second floor, revealing a reinforced concrete system known as cinder concrete or “goulash” construction.

Two new double-height pavilions, located in an X-shaped configuration on the first floor, are home to group study rooms, the Courtyard Cafe, printing and scanning equipment, and an open loft space for exhibits.

Crews work to suspend acoustical baffles from the ceiling in the second floor’s Quiet Reading Room.

Terrazzo flooring is installed; the first floor also features cork flooring and carpet. All interior finish materials and fabrics were selected from “Red List Free” materials to create a healthier environment.

Leaky single-pane glass was replaced with high-performance sealed insulated glazing units in Hayden’s large bay windows, dramatically reducing thermal losses.

Kennedy & Violich Architecture fabricated the porch ceiling, featuring wooden panels with abstracted leaf and vine designs.

Crews work to waterproof the courtyard to protect the library’s book stacks located below.