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COVER STORY: THE RICHARD J . KLARCHEK INFORMATION COMMONS

Learning on the Lake

By BRENDAN KEATING (BA ‘01, JD ‘04)

THE NEW RICHARD J. KLARCHEK INFORMATION COMMONS, A COMPLETELY digital library, is one of the most exciting buildings to open at Loyola in decades. It offers students and faculty a stunning place to gather, study, research, and interact, and in keeping with Loyola's dedication to sustainability, the Information Commons uses progressive technology to significantly reduce energy use. Largely transparent, the building sits on Lake Michigan between Madonna della Strada Chapel and Cudahy Library. "It's beautiful," says freshman Marguerite Hoving. "Sitting next to the huge windows, I feel like I'm outside. I can study here for hours and the time just flies by."

From conception to construction
As Loyola's enrollment has increased, the Lake Shore Campus's main library, Cudahy, has reached its capacity. A building planned before the digital age, Cudahy lacks enough space for computers or group study. Loyola President Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., realized the necessity of not only an additional facility, but an altogether new type of library. With the impending deconstruction of the outdated Jesuit residence, the eastern portion of the campus could be re-imagined. It was the vision of the president to create a building that would not only be architecturally significant, but also would meld Cudahy Library with Madonna della Strada. "We tried to knit the architecture of those buildings with this one," says Devon Patterson, principal of Solomon Cordwell Buenz, the design and architecture firm behind the Information Commons, "while at the same time preserving the view of the lake." The solution was two stone bookends, made to match the neighboring architecture, enclosing a primarily glass center.

Engineering for the environment
Loyola had already started building green with the Quinlan Life Sciences building and Baumhart Hall, both of which have green roofs and other eco-friendly features. The Richard J. Klarchek Information Commons, however, presented a new opportunity and a new challenge for building with an eye toward sustainability.

"Given how transparent we wanted to make it, we knew we had to be smart about energy conservation," says Wayne Magdziarz, vice president for strategic planning at Loyola. "The location on the lake, with all the sunlight and the wind, could really drive up the cost of heating and cooling."

The design team, which included Solomon Cordwell Buenz of Chicago and Transsolar of Germany, transformed this sun and wind from a liability to an asset by essentially making the Information Commons a machine to harness the environment and keep the interior comfortable. According to Patterson, the design team used the exterior glass walls to capture energy and a double-skin façade that works as a ventilator to reduce energy consumption by as much as 50 percent.

Sensors inside the building, as well as a weather station on the roof, monitor the climate indoors and out, and make adjustments such as raising and lowering shades, running heated or cooled water through concrete slabs in the ceiling, and opening and closing dampers to regulate the interior temperature. These innovations, as well as the use of locally produced materials, recycled content, and water-saving features, earned the Information Commons a silver-level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) designation. The building has also received the New Construction Project of the Year Award from the Construction Industry Service Corporation and the international LEAF (Leading European Architects' Forum) Award for Best Use of Technology.

A book-less library
The philosophy behind the Information Commons reflects a national trend toward providing a one-stop-shopping experience for all research, technology support, and access to electronic resources. The Information Commons features 222 computer workstations, circulating laptops, a media center, full wireless access, collaborative software, and 700 computer-use and study seats. "We really needed more computing space in a more comfortable environment, and now we've got it," says sophomore Karun Singla.

These digital capabilities allow faculty and students to tap into an electronic collection of periodicals, dissertations, and journals. In addition, the University libraries have been converting much of their own collections to an online format. This frees up storage space, makes information accessible from remote locations, and takes advantage of new opportunities offered by technology. "Some periodicals have gone completely digital," explains Bob Seal, dean of libraries. "We want our students and faculty to have access to these resources."

On the other hand, Seal emphasizes that paper still plays an essential part in Loyola's library system. In fact, the Information Commons is only one aspect of the library system's total revitalization. Plans are under way to modernize and remodel Cudahy Library, which will house the paper collections on the Lake Shore Campus.

"Although there is tremendous demand for electronic research, there is still a segment of the University that wants access to books," says Seal. "We still buy about 10,000 books a year. Sometimes while doing research, you just want to have that pile of books on your desk."

In a nod to nostalgia, the Information Commons also features a quiet reading room on the third floor with dark wood paneling and a fireplace—no computers allowed.

A home for the meeting of minds
True to its designation as a "commons," the building encourages cooperation through a variety of spaces available for group work, as well as technology that supports partnerships across the aisle and across the globe. The café, located between Cudahy and the north entrance of the Information Commons, represents the new approach of universities toward libraries as places of community and collaboration. The goal of the Information Commons is to provide a comfortable and inviting place where students and faculty want to gather.

For this reason, Father Garanzini sees the Information Commons as fast becoming the hub of the Lake Shore Campus. "We've provided our campus community with a beautiful and modern space in which to learn, study, and interact with one another," he says. "It represents our commitment to the well-rounded development of our students." The Information Commons redefines the Lake Shore Campus and reflects Loyola's ability to adapt to the evolving needs of students and the continually changing landscape of higher education.

Benefactor

Richar d J. Klarchek ( University Regent, Trustee )
A self-made businessman from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Klarchek realized in his youth the importance of a good education. His success and generosity reflect his immigrant Italian family's belief in using one's God-given talents and gifts to follow the American dream. The Richard J. Klarchek Information Commons is Klarchek's outward expression of his commitment to the University and its community of learning.

Resources

Innovations

FAÇADE
Chicago's first doubleskin façade for natural ventilation and heat flow management

CEILINGS
Radiant concreteslab ceilings that cool in the summer and heat in the winter

SENSORS
An array of sensors monitoring temperature, humidity, and CO² levels

WINDOWS
Shades, dampers, and blinds that respond to climate data and adjust accordingly