Window Replacement at UTA Central Library to Begin Soon

The UTA Central Library will be undergoing a facelift, with the latest construction project set to get underway in April. Funding from the state will allow the libraries to replace all outside windows with new energy-efficient ones. 

Rebecca Bichel, Dean of Libraries, stated that the project is expected to take place over four to five months. Once complete, it will be a significant upgrade to improve the building’s efficiency and comfort. 

“The plan is that the builders will go one side of the building by one side of the building. They will start on the first floor on one side and move to the top floor on that side,” Rebecca said. “Their goal will be to work on a span of eight windows at a time.” 

Rebecca stated that the project would impact library staff and patrons with sections closed off to allow work to take place. 

The work in each of these sections will take around three weeks to complete. The first week will be for moving furniture and staff out of office suites. University furniture will not be moved by staff but by professional movers hired by UTA Libraries. 

The second week is when the workers will start the window installations and repair the window frames. By the end of the third week, it is anticipated that impacted library staff will be allowed to move back into their offices. The work schedule will need to be flexible, as bad weather may extend the three-week timeline or cause timelines to shift. 

"I want to emphasize to staff and patrons that while the team will be as flexible as possible, spaces that are closed off will be secured and off limits for the safety of everyone,” Rebecca said. “For staff, that means if you may need an item from your office during that period, you need to take it with you as you will not be able to just drop back in to pick up items. The project team also recognizes that some spaces have greater time urgency, such as classrooms, and they will try to respond to those needs as much as possible.” 

There will be signage inside and outside of the Central Library alerting people to construction work that is taking place around the building. Safety barricades will be put in place in the areas where construction is taking place.  

Work is anticipated to start the second week of April starting on the north side of the Central Library building in rooms 108 and 109 on the first floor. Construction crews will evaluate the installation of these windows to see if any adjustments need to be made in the overall project.  

In total, there will be about 440 windows that will be replaced. The windows that are currently installed in the building have been in place since the 1960s. They will be replaced with energy efficient windows that will not require any window treatments.  

Since the library is a very active building, if a window is taken out, a new window will be installed the same day. If the weather is not optimal, a window scheduled to be replaced will be rescheduled. 

Rebecca stated that at certain times during the construction period, such as finals week, no work would take place in public spaces, so students would not be negatively impacted while studying. 

For updates about the window replacement project, contact Kevin Schuck, director of library Budget and finance, at keschuck@uta.edu.  

People can also check the UTA Libraries website, https://libraries.uta.edu, or its social media channels, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.