NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY
HESBURGH LIBRARY RENOVATION

Click on the images for larger view.

Gallery View / Central North South Axis Spine
Looking south towards the stadium.

I was extremely honored to be selected in 2014 to create some initial conceptual architectural visualizations to market and fund raise the renovation of Hesburgh Library at Notre Dame University.

The library was in desperate need of a makeover having not been remodeled with respect
to the modern needs of students beyond merely housing books and seating. The architects did a wonderful job of creating new working spaces that reflect modern needs, opening up spaces and providing ample natural light and respite from what was very uninspiring, and organizing what looked like chaos in comparison.

The general renovation design which had already been completed was to serve as an outline to follow structurally and in a general architectural sense, but almost all of the detailing and all of the furnishings decor, lighting etc. were up to me to create as well as illustrate within the context of creating a complete 3D photo-real model with multiple views.

The project was a very complicated, being composed of numerous interior spaces that were interconnected and therefore interrelated to each other in context and in the technical aspect of lighting them in 3D.

The library comprises over 440,000 square feet over 14 stories divided into 2 main bottom floors and the stack tower rising above it. The challenge as it is in modeling any interior space is in creating the complexity of the space while working in the cramped environment, which is completely unlike exterior modeling.

• Floors and ceilings had to be separated in order to build, detail and furnish the spaces

• Layering had to be strictly maintained to separate the myriad of elements.

• Creating the interior architecture and finishes for all of the spaces which was to be reflective

of not only the general new design, but utilizing material elements of the existing space.

• There were over 2,000 separate lighting instances and types to manage including

• Ambient / area lighting

• Skylights and windows

• Luminescent strips

• Many differing point lighting instances

• Designing and building many different furnishings from desks, seating and bookcases to lighting fixtures

• Creating many custom textures and RGB specified colors to accurately match paint swatches

…and finally selecting the views, tweaking them and creating fully rendered output, post processed with appropriate demographic photo real figures.

During the process I was involved with the architecture department, the interior design department and the marketing department in co-ordinating a mutually acceptable solution to the needs of all 3 groups.

Everything was created in Sketchup and rendered in an independent rendering program, with additional post processing in Photoshop. Each photo shows the Sketchup view at top and the completed rendered version below.

This working process view shows the first floor ceiling, first floor, second floor, 

second floor ceiling and roof modules which were worked on separately 

and then stacked for the individual space views.

...another working process image of the model showing the first floor

and a bit of the complexity involved. The footprint is roughly 300' x 300',

and the column spacing is approx 21' x 21'.

...another working process image showing the complexity and size of the

2nd floor ceiling with the ceiling mounted lighting fixtures.

The Concourse

The East/West spine of the building that one can enter on either side remains a welcoming area albeit updated and provides access to specialized areas including the student lounge, the coffeehouse Au Bon Pain, a theatre and a museum and historical collection.

View looking east from the west end of the Concourse 

Concourse view looking west from the east end.

The curved plex donor wall display that I designed to replace the 

individual wall plaques was nixed in lieu of additional seating.

Concourse entry view into the Gallery axis spine.

The Gallery

The major north/south axis spine was redefined to help organize and provide direction

to the individual areas of the new concept and fitted with a new entry/exit on the

north end of the building.

Gallery view looking north from the Concourse entry.

Gallery view in the central area looking through the seating areas

towards the circulation and reference desks. 

An atrium cut to the second floor above hints at some

of the graduate teaching/seminar spaces etc.

Grand Reading Room

A large central reading/study area for students featuring a large atrium and skylight

to open up the space and provide plenty of light into what was previously

a very confining, uninspiring and unorganized area.

View looking toward the Concourse.

A view from the opposite side, also looking towards the Concourse.

A view of the Grand Reading Room from the 2nd floor.

Collaboration Areas

These are think tank areas set aside for group collaboration / seminar usage

with a tech emphasis.

View of a Collaboration pod area from one of the stairwells.

A view inside one of the Collaboration areas.

Scholars Lounge / Café Overflow

A place where students can unwind, network and socialize,

as well as additional flex space for studies or seminar usage.

Lounge area inside Scholars Lounge

...another view of the lounge area inside Scholars Lounge.

Study / flex area inside Scholars Lounge.

Tower Floors / The Stacks

These floors contain the majority of the book collections

as well as quiet reading areas and graduate study areas.

General view from the main central aisle from the elevator.

On each tower floor there are comfortable seating and study areas

which are separated from each other  yet open.

A linear reading/study area caps the end of each floor

and takes advantage of existing window lighting.

Looking back towards the elevators from the linear reading study area.

Inside the graduate study area, which is separated from the

stacks, yet open within, containing carrels and advanced materials, 

which is a far cry from the existing claustrophobic closet like

and poorly lit partitions.