By Jamie Alcaparras
The Speed School building at the University of Louisville known as the Laura Kersey Library of Engineering, Physical Science, and Technology currently lies barren, awaiting a renovation that is expected to take at least two years.
In the mean time, students have complained of a loss of resources and study space.
The renovation will cost an estimated $7 million, according to the Dean of Engineering Dr. Mickey Wilhelm.
The basic layout for the first floor includes high-tech classrooms for graphics, mathematics and introductory engineering courses and a student commons area for congregation and studying, which will include vending machines.
The second floor will house laboratories and offices of the Department of Computer Science and Computer Engineering.
“It would be good to have a home base as a freshman. That was one thing I never had,” said mechanical engineering grad student Curtis Nall. Nall said he currently studies in a small room in Sackett Hall. “There are 50 of us who share this room,” Nall said.
Sophomore Anthony Lynn, a chemical engineering student, said that he was pleased to hear that the renovation will create a career service center where staff members can assist students with resumes, interviews, internships and other career advancements.
“I’m more nervous about the field, how to apply everything you learn. I’ve been in landscaping. I’ve done that all my life. It is a total change in direction,” said Lynn.
Nall, who will already have graduated by the time the renovation is completed, advised freshmen to take advantage of the refurbished facility.
“There should be some valuable study aids and hopefully insight on courses that they are getting ready to have,” said Nall.
Money is not the only expense of this multi-million dollar project. Students said they are paying a price as they struggle to find resources from Kersey library.
Books and journals have been placed in crates to be transferred to the Ekstrom Library, which is the university’s main library.
Nall said he was unable to find materials that had been moved from Kersey to Ekstrom this past semester. Nall said he had to place books and journals on order at the Ekstrom Library.
Plans concerning where engineering students can assemble while the building is under construction will be discussed during the planning process. This process could take another six months, said Wilhelm.
Lynn alleged that finding space to study is not a big issue to him. “If this room [in Sackett Hall] is full, I go to the Chemistry building,” he said.
Furthermore, architects are still discussing plans regarding the floors, walls, ceiling, heating, plumbing and electricity.
The financing of this project falls on donors, alumni, organizations and other supporters. The donor who gives the most will rename facility, said Wilhelm.
The building was named Kersey Library in 1979 in honor of Laura Kersey, an engineering librarian. And today, a picture of Laura Kersey can be seen on the walls of the Ekstrom library in honor of her services.
Wilhelm said he hopes the renovation will be finished by 2009.
Those interested in contributing a donation towards the renovation can contact Director of Development for Speed Jack Roby at 852-6982.
