William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library

Last updated
William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library
Thompson Library September 2021.png
Thompson Library East Atrium
William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library
39°59′57″N83°00′53″W / 39.99925°N 83.01485°W / 39.99925; -83.01485
Location Columbus, Ohio, United States
TypeAcademic
Established1913
Branch of Ohio State University Libraries
Collection
Size1.25 million (on-site)
Other information
Public transit accessAiga bus trans.svg COTA alt logo.svg 1, 2, 8, 22, 31, Night Owl
Website Thompson Library

The William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library (commonly referred to as the Thompson Library) is the main library at Ohio State University's Columbus campus. It is the university's largest library and houses its main stacks, special collections, rare books and manuscripts, and many departmental subject libraries. The library was originally built in 1912, and was renovated in 1951, 1977, and 2009. It is named in honor of the university's fifth president, William Oxley Thompson.

Contents

Library information

Grand Reading Room with replica of Winged Victory of Samothrace statue The Ohio State University December 2013 17 (Thompson Library).jpg
Grand Reading Room with replica of Winged Victory of Samothrace statue

The Ohio State University's University Libraries manages 15 locations on the Columbus campus, of which the Thompson Library is the largest. [1] In addition to housing the main stacks and serving as the central research library for the entire campus, the Thompson Library is home to many of the subject libraries in the humanities and social sciences, as well as reference, special collections, rare books and manuscripts, journals, and general interest periodicals. Departmental subject libraries include literature, foreign language by region, linguistics, philosophy, religion, theater, anthropology, history, sociology, and political science. Some subject libraries, such as science and engineering, architecture, agriculture, fine arts, law, health sciences, veterinary sciences, and geology, are housed in the university's other libraries. [2]

Of the system's 5.8 million volumes, the Thompson Library holds about 1.25 million volumes, including 250,000 special collections volumes. [3] [4] Additional book storage is provided by the university's off-site Book Depository, which also houses the University Archives.

History

Background

When The Ohio State University opened in 1873, the library was located on the first floor of University Hall. In 1884, it was moved to the building's third floor, and in 1893 it was moved to the newly constructed Orton Hall. As early as 1897, university librarians voiced their need for a dedicated library building, and this eventually resulted in the construction of the Main Library (as the Thompson Library was originally known) in 1910. [5]

Original building

Original east facade with 1951 tower above The Ohio State University December 2013 21 (Thompson Library).jpg
Original east facade with 1951 tower above

The original Beaux-Arts library building was built between 1910 and 1912. In 1910, the architectural firm Allen & Collens of Boston was selected through a design competition. Later that year, the architects submitted a formal proposal, which was accepted by OSU's Board of Trustees, and then a call for bids was put out for construction. Ground was broken on December 23, 1910, and construction was completed two years later on December 18, 1912. Following completion, books were moved, and the library was officially open to the university community on January 6, 1913. Since the initial construction, the library has been renovated three times, in 1951, 1977, and 2009. [6]

1951 and 1977 expansions

The library's first expansion was built in 1947–1951. [7] A 10-story tower was constructed for the library stacks, and single-story extensions were built north and south of the east facade. It was completed on June 2, 1951. [6] In the same year, the Main Library was renamed the William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library in honor of the university's fifth president, William Oxley Thompson, who was in office when the original building was built. [5]

The library was again expanded in the 1970s, when a modern addition was built to extend the west wing. It was completed on January 5, 1977. [6]

2009 renovation and expansion

West facade, built during the 2009 renovation The Ohio State University December 2013 09 (Thompson Library).jpg
West facade, built during the 2009 renovation
Buckeye Reading Room, part of the 2009 renovation The Ohio State University December 2013 10 (Thompson Library).jpg
Buckeye Reading Room, part of the 2009 renovation

The most recent renovation to the Thompson Library was a $108.7 million project that began on January 10, 2007, and was completed in the summer of 2009. [4] It was designed by the Gund Partnership with Acock Associates Architects as the architect of record. [8] The library's original east facade and Grand Reading Room were restored, while the 1977 west wing addition and 1951 north and south extensions were demolished. [4] A new 91,000 sq ft (8,500 m2) west wing was built, bringing the library floor space to 306,000 sq ft (28,400 m2). [7] Nearly 1000 seats were added to the library, but shelf space was decreased, so many volumes were moved to other locations. The renovation focused on opening up the library space to natural light and creating a more coherent space. Features added in the renovation include a new West Atrium and Buckeye Reading Room, glass walls for the lower floors of the 1951 book tower, exhibition space for the library's special collections, a café, and a ground-floor east–west passageway that extends the Oval's "Long Walk" through the building. The renovation was opened to the public on September 24, 2009. [4] [8] [7] [9]

Various art pieces were included in the restoration. The written-word piece VERSE was installed on the floor of the Buckeye Reading Room, [10] and 49 metal plates called "Foundation Stones" were set throughout the library, featuring engravings in a wide range of writing and graphic notation systems. [11] [12] Additionally, a new replica of the Winged Victory of Samothrace statue was commissioned and installed in the Grand Reading Room to replace an earlier replica from 1913 which had fallen into disrepair and was removed in 1959. [13]

The 2009 renovation received several awards, including a 2009 AIA Columbus Merit Award, [14] a 2009 ABC Excellence in Construction Eagle Award, [15] a 2009 Columbus Landmarks Foundation James B. Recchie Design Award, [16] [7] a 2010 SCUP/AIA-CAE Excellence in Architecture Renovation/Adaptive Reuse Special Citation, [17] and a 2011 AIA/ALA Library Building Award. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">German Village</span> Historic neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, U.S.

German Village is a historic neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, just south of the city's downtown. It was settled in the early-to-mid-19th century by a large number of German immigrants, who at one time comprised as much as a third of the city's entire population. It became a city historic district in 1960 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, becoming the list's largest privately funded preservation district, and in 2007, was made a Preserve America Community by the federal government. In 1980, its boundaries increased, and today it is one of the world's premier historic restorations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1 Spadina Crescent</span> Academic building of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

1 Spadina Crescent, also known as the Daniels Building, is an academic building that houses the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The building is situated in the centre of a roundabout of Spadina Avenue, north of College Street. Its location provides a picturesque vista looking north up Spadina Avenue; it is an axial view terminus for Spadina Avenue.

Howard Dwight Smith was an architect most known for his designs of Ohio Stadium for which he was awarded the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal for Public Building Design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Oxley Thompson</span> American cleric and university president (1855–1933)

William Oxley Thompson, D.D. was the fifth president of Ohio State University. During his term as president, he was known for his practice of segregationist policies against black students on campus.

AIA Columbus is a chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Founded in 1913, it is one of the largest urban components of the American Institute of Architects in the Midwestern United States, with members throughout Central and Southeastern Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SMBH, Inc.</span> American structural engineering company

SMBH, Inc. is a full-service structural engineering firm located in Columbus, Ohio. Providing structural engineering services for architects, contractors and building owners, SMBH, Inc. has experience designing educational facilities, medical centers, courthouses and commercial and residential buildings. Since 1972, SMBH, Inc. has served the architectural and construction communities in Ohio and surrounding states. SMBH, Inc. has worked with architectural firms such as Graham Gund's Gund Partnership, Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects, Peter Eisenman, and Robert A.M. Stern.

Stephen J. Carter, AIA, NCARB, LF'82 is an American architect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knowlton Hall</span> Building at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, US

Knowlton Hall, located in Columbus, Ohio, United States, is the current home for the three disciplines that comprise the Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture (KSA) at Ohio State University. The building was completed in 2004. The School of Architecture offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and City and Regional Planning. Knowlton Hall serves as the replacement for Ives Hall, the previous home of the school of architecture which was demolished in July 2002. The namesake of Knowlton Hall is Austin E. "Dutch" Knowlton. He graduated from Ohio State University in 1931 with a Bachelor's in Architectural Engineering and provided a $10 million donation that spearheaded the funding for the creation of the building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohio History Center</span> History museum in Columbus, Ohio

The Ohio History Center is a history museum and research center in Columbus, Ohio. It is the primary museum for Ohio's history, and is the headquarters, offices, and library of the Ohio History Connection. The building also houses Ohio's state archives, also managed by the Ohio History Connection. The museum is located at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, site of the Ohio State Fair, and a short distance north of downtown. The history center opened in 1970 as the Ohio Historical Center, moving the museum from its former site by the Ohio State University. The building was designed by Ireland & Associates in the Brutalist style. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places along with the Ohio Village in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbus City Hall (Ohio)</span> City hall in Columbus, Ohio

Columbus City Hall is the city hall of Columbus, Ohio, in the city's downtown Civic Center. It contains the offices of the city's mayor, auditor, and treasurer, and the offices and chambers of Columbus City Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ballinger Company</span>

Ballinger is an interdisciplinary design firm, one of the first in the United States to merge the disciplines of architecture and engineering into a professional practice. The firm's single office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, houses a staff of over 250 people. Ballinger is one of the largest architectural firms in the Philadelphia region and known for its work in academic, healthcare, corporate, and research planning and design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indianola Junior High School</span> United States historic place

Indianola Junior High School is a historic school building located on 19th Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. The building opened in 1929 after the school moved out of its previous location on 16th Avenue. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlas Building</span> Historic building in Columbus, Ohio

The Atlas Building, originally the Columbus Savings & Trust Building, is a high-rise building in Downtown Columbus, Ohio, built in 1905 and designed by Frank Packard. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The building has seen two major renovations, in 1982 and 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main Library (Columbus, Ohio)</span> Columbus, Ohios main lending library

The Main Library of the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) system is located in Downtown Columbus, Ohio, United States. The public library is the largest in the library system and holds approximately 300,000 volumes. It includes numerous rooms, including separate spaces for children, teens, an adult reading room, newspaper room, auditorium, gallery, gift shop, and a cafe. The third floor includes a computer lab and houses the Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society.

Kliment Halsband Architects (KHA) was founded in New York City in 1972 by Robert Kliment and Frances Halsband. The New York City based firm is known for their architecture, master planning, interior design, adaptive reuse, historic preservation and transformation of institutional buildings. KHA's work expertise includes cultural, educational, governmental, and most recently healthcare buildings. In 2022, Kliment Halsband Architects joined forces with Perkins Eastman to become "Kliment Halsband Architects—A Perkins Eastman Studio."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capitol Square</span> Public square in Columbus, Ohio

Capitol Square is a public square in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. The square includes the Ohio Statehouse, its 10-acre (4.0 ha) Capitol Grounds, as well as the buildings and features surrounding the square. The Capitol Grounds are surrounded to the north and west by Broad and High Streets. These are the main thoroughfares of the city since its founding. They form the city's 100 percent corner. The grounds are surrounded by 3rd Street to the east and State Street to the south. The oldest building on Capitol Square, the Ohio Statehouse, is the center of the state government and roughly in the geographic center of Capitol Square, Columbus and Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbus Landmarks</span> Historic preservation foundation in Ohio

The Columbus Landmarks Foundation, known as Columbus Landmarks, is a nonprofit historic preservation organization in Columbus, Ohio. The foundation is best-known for its list of endangered sites in the city and its annual design award, given to buildings, landscapes, and other sites created or renovated in Columbus. It was established in 1977 as a project of the Junior League of Columbus, Ohio, following the demolition of the city's historic Union Station. It is headquartered at 57 Jefferson Avenue, a contributing structure in the Jefferson Avenue Historic District in Downtown Columbus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Columbus, Ohio</span>

The architecture of Columbus, Ohio is represented by numerous notable architects' works, individually notable buildings, and a wide range of styles. Yost & Packard, the most prolific architects for much of the city's history, gave the city much of its eclectic and playful designs at a time when architecture tended to be busy and vibrant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">77 North Front Street</span> City office building in Columbus, Ohio

77 North Front Street is a municipal office building of Columbus, Ohio, in the city's downtown Civic Center. The building, originally built as the Central Police Station in 1930, operated in that function until 1991. After about two decades of vacancy, the structure was renovated for city agency use in 2011.

References

  1. ↑ "About Us". The Ohio State University – University Libraries. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Locations". The Ohio State University – University Libraries. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  3. ↑ Louise Schaper (June 28, 2012). "New Landmark Libraries 2012 #3: William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library, Ohio State University". Library Journal. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Encarnacion Pyle (August 3, 2009). "OSU's main library reopens today after three-year, $109 million renovation". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Thompson (William Oxley) Library". Buckeye Stroll. The Ohio State University – University Libraries. 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 "William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library". Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture Digital Library. The Ohio State University. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library, Ohio State University". Gund Partnership. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  8. 1 2 Lawrence Biemiller (January 15, 2010). "Campus Architecture Database: William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  9. 1 2 "William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library - 2011 AIA / ALA Library Building Awards". The American Institute of Architects. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  10. ↑ "VERSE". The Ohio State University – University Libraries. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Foundation Stones". The Ohio State University – University Libraries. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  12. ↑ Dan McKeever (May 13, 2009). "Lively Languages". The Lantern. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  13. ↑ Sam Harrington (March 17, 2013). "Winged Victory replica statue placed in Thompson Library, 100 year history with Ohio State". The Lantern. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  14. ↑ "2009 Design Awards". AIA Columbus. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  15. ↑ "The Ohio State University Thompson Library, Columbus Ohio" (PDF). Heapy Engineering. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  16. ↑ "James B. Recchie Design Award Past Winners". Columbus Landmarks Foundation. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  17. ↑ "2010 SCUP Excellence in Planning, SCUP Excellence in Landscape Architecture and SCUP/AIA-CAE Excellence in Architecture Award Recipients". Society for College and University Planning. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.