Dana Porter Main Floor Renovations
The renovations are complete and the main floor has a new look and layout. The floor has maintained the same services as before, but now includes a range of new and updated features to enjoy.
What’s new and improved?
More workstations, printers, and outlets
- 62 public access workstations (increased from 48)
- 4 black and white laser printers (increased from 3)
- Two print release stations located close to the workstation areas (increased from 1)
- A high speed and eco-friendly colour printer
- Clean and spacious workstation areas, with system units now mounted below the table tops
- Electrical and network connections at all study tables, with an approximate 30 additional network drops available as an alternative to wireless
A variety of study and social areas
The floor’s spaces accommodate a range of purposes, including individual and group study, and provide flexible access to technologies.
The different areas include:
- Individual study located along the northeast window
- Group study in several areas of the floor
- A bookable group collaboration booth for up to 6 people that includes a 28’’ LCD monitor that can be connected to a library workstation or personal laptop
- A laptop counter along the southeast window that seats 8, with power and data outlets for all spots
- Casual seating in Browsers Café and a lounge area by the Copy Centre
Design features to inspire and engage
The floor is designed to inspire and encourage information discovery. In certain areas it is also designed to provoke thought and conversation. Consider the unique features created to achieve these things:
- Glass quotation wall –
The glass quotation wall divides Browsers Café and the reference collection and displays quotations in a selection of languages to read, contemplate, and discuss
- Curved ceiling and feature wall –
The lighting and curved ceiling lead you naturally into the lobby and ultimately towards the red feature wall displaying a prominent quotation selected to encourage intellectual dialogue
- LCD display screens –
An LCD display screen is located by the elevators to provide information about the Library’s services and resources, as well as campus events and news
- Copy Centre –
The Copy Centre is designed in a box shape to divide the Browsers Café seating and the lounge area, creating an intimate area for each. The walls of the Copy Centre are punched with a shifted and rotated pattern of wood window boxes and finished with coloured acrylic, frosted glass, bulletin boards, and display windows
- Exhibit space – In addition to the display windows on the Copy Centre walls, there is room inside the entranceway for temporary displays to showcase creative and constructive works created by the UW community
Accessibility and universal design
The floor has been designed to promote optimal accessibility and access for everyone.
- The entrance has sliding doors with motion sensors to provide easy and equal access The floor’s varying textures, inset path, and contrasting colours create spatial and visual cues for individuals with vision loss
- Aisles in the reference collection are spaced according to the defined accessibility width in the Ontario Building Code
- Furniture in the Adaptive Technology Centre is flexible and accessible, with electronically adjustable workstations and ergonomic chairs
- The Circulation and Information Desks remain accessible with an adjustable counter at the Circulation Desk and counters of differing heights at the Information Desk
With thanks
The renovations were made possible as result of support received from UW students, faculty and staff, as well as community supporters through initiatives such as the Kresge Challenge.
December 6, 2008
