The Pierce Reading Room on the third floor of Lauinger Library closed Jan. 14 for a yearlong renovation that will redesign and expand the physical space as well as introduce new technology. 

In addition to a 2,000 square foot expansion into what was previously office space for library staff, the library will introduce a digital lab and install additional windows facing the Potomac River. The renovation has an estimated completion date of December 2025 and will involve morning construction to minimize noise disruption.

Harriette Hemmasi, dean of the library, said that the project will include revitalized spaces for collaborative and independent work. 

“Pierce is a big room right now, but it will be more than 2,000 square feet bigger,” Hemmasi told The Hoya. “There will be a couple of small group study rooms, there will be casual seating and there will be long study tables.”

Library staff will seek student input in elements of the space’s design, including seating and furniture fabric, with samples of potential chairs available in the library later this month for student review and feedback.

Suzanne Chase, head of digital scholarship and technology services at Lauinger Library, said the new digital lab will allow the library to support computational research and public-facing events. 

“We expect this space to develop and grow and really feature prominently in programming, so we can have guest speakers, presentations and symposia events there after hours,” Chase told The Hoya. “It’ll be mostly for teaching and research, but also for use by students who are doing computational projects and need a really high-definition screen to show graphics or images.”

According to Hemmasi, though efforts have been taken to reduce and prevent excessive noise, certain stages of the construction may cause disruptions to those on campus.

“Part of the time, it may not be possible to prevent the spread of noise. There is a certain amount of heavy-duty deconstruction of the space that will have to happen,” Hemmasi said. “And we’ve been working with the architects and communications on campus and campus facilities to make sure that a lot of people have been notified.”

A university spokesperson said the university will offer substitute study locations in wake of the renovations. 

“While the Pierce Reading Room is under construction, students can find alternative places in the Library to study on the Library’s Quiet Study Areas page,” the spokesperson wrote to The Hoya.

To accommodate for the temporary space closure, the university will pilot extended hours in the Bioethics Research Library, located on the first floor of Healy Hall, and Blommer Science Library, in the Reiss Science Building, by opening the spaces until 11 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday beginning Jan. 21.

Hemmasi said new third floor restrooms will be installed with access from the main entrance but will remain unavailable for the duration of construction.

Claudia Byun (SON ’25), a student employee at the third floor circulation desk, said she predicts that other spaces in the library will see increased foot traffic during the renovation. 

“I think we can expect an increase of students on the other floors of Lau, other libraries on campus and study spots in the Georgetown neighborhood,” Byun wrote to The Hoya.

Claire Auslander (SON ’26) said the temporary closure of the space will prove disappointing despite other quiet study spaces remaining open throughout the library. 

“It was one of the only spaces in the library that was consistently quiet, well-lit, and still facilitated opportunities for focused group and individual work,” Auslander wrote to The Hoya. “The tall space and open ceilings cannot be found on Lau 4 or 5; it kind of gave this fishbowl effect that I really enjoyed.”

Hemmasi said renovations to the Pierce Reading Room could be the first step in a series of updates to Lauinger Library. 

“Over the last two years, we’ve been working with an architect to kind of create a conceptual plan for other parts of Lau so that eventually the whole building will be renovated, and even this spring, we will continue that kind of conceptual design,” Hemmasi said. “We’re very excited about the possibilities.”