The University of Utah’s J. Willard Marriott Library will have its first major change since the seismic upgrade about six years ago. The Katherine W. Dumke Fine Arts and Architecture Library is expanding its space on the first and second floors on the library’s north side. The addition of a changeable indoor/outdoor sculpture garden is being funded by Katherine Dumke. Greg Hatch, head of the Arts and Architecture library, says planners initially just wanted to make sure the Dumkes were okay with the idea.
“And in having conversations with the family, they suggested that they thought that the proposal was actually not big enough," says Hatch. "They wanted an even bigger vision.”
Hatch says the project now includes retractable glass walls on the upper level of the patio as well as the creation of more lecture and exhibit space for sculpture works. He says it’s going to come from a U student design.
“We’re very much in early stage of design. The student project gave us a lot of interesting things to consider for the space. They really gave us some new visions for what is possible.”
Hatch says students will also be able to get their hands on a new collection of physical materials called the Material ConneXion. All the materials are design and construction metals, fabrics and polymers as well as sustainable products like ceramics and wood. He says only a few libraries in the country currently offer this collection. The construction phase of the project is set to begin next May and be completed by Fall. The amount of the Dumke gift to the library is not being made public.
