McLennan-Redpath Terraces project
Summer 2013 renovation work at McLennan-Redpath Complex
The McLennan-Redpath Complex (Humanities and Social Sciences Library) is scheduled to undergo three renovation projects beginning Monday, June 3.
During the course of these projects, Library access will only be available through the McLennan Library Building entrance. Further, all services and resources located on the street level of the Redpath Library Building will be closed June 3 – August 30. This includes:
- the Food Court
- the Cyberthèque
- the Copy Centre
- the washrooms
- access to the tunnel that leads to the Leacock Building
Every effort will be made to complete all projects with minimum disruption to the public and services. Your feedback at every stage of these projects is important. Questions can be sent to reno [dot] library [at] mcgill [dot] ca.
Summary: Reconstruction of the pedestrian roof terraces of the McLennan Library and Redpath Library.
Project number: 08-29-085
Cost: $ 8.8 million
Timeline: Renovations are being conducted in three phases over the summers of 2011, 2012 and 2013, to minimize the disruption during the regular academic year. Phase III is now in progress and is scheduled to be completed in time for the Fall term, 2013.
Demolition and reconstruction work will take place between 7am and 3pm, with heavy drilling to occur between 7 and 10am.
Project overview:
The pedestrian roof terrace of the McLennan Library was constructed in 1969, while the roof terrace along the east side of the Redpath Library dates back to 1952. Most people are aware of these structures’ most obvious function as a terrace, but they also act as flat roofs for the occupied spaces underneath them. Both roof terraces have seen significant infiltration of water and salt since their construction, creating chronic problems and threatening to damage library areas, including the newly renovated Cybertech space in the basement of Redpath Library.
To address the water infiltration issue, the existing concrete paving from the roof terraces has been stripped down and replaced with a new impermeable composition allowing proper drainage and insulation.
Phase Three (now under way) will complete the reconstruction of the northern half of the Redpath rooftop terrace. It will include renvoations to doorways and interior staircases, made necessary by the revised height of the new terrace.
We have taken advantage of the opportunity this project offered to incorporate aesthetic additions to the area, including a pattern in the new stone terrace floor, as well as a new bench and handrail detail.
Sustainability:
In addition to preventing water infiltration of the roof terraces, an underground storm-water retention tank has been incorporated into the construction plans. The tank, situated beside the southwest corner of Redpath Library, will retain all the water that falls on the terrace from Redpath Hall to McTavish Street. A portion of the collected water will be used for irrigation purposes, such as grass, shrubs and plants that colour the pedestrian zone of McTavish Street. The remaining water will be released into the city sewer at a slower rate, to ensure sewers are not overloaded.
Access and circulation:
During the three-phase renovation project, universal access points – entrances and delivery points – will be adjusted and relocated as needed.
During Phase Three (summer 2013), public access to both the McLennan and Redpath Libraries will be via the main entrance of Redpath Library and the library tunnel connecting McLennan and Redpath. Staff will be able to access both buildings via the service point entrance on McTavish Street.
Students and staff with mobility issues may enter through the McGill Service Point (3415 McTavish Street).
Click the map below for more detailed circulation information.
For up-to-date information on the McLennan and Redpath Library renovations and circulation changes, please visit the library renovation site:
http://www.mcgill.ca/library/library-about/renovations/
For more information on the history of the McLennan Library, please click here.
For more information on the history of the Redpath Library, please click here.