New Santa Clara University Library Builds High-Tech Retrieval System

By Robert Carlsen

They call it "The Library for the 21st Century."

Planners and builders of the Santa Clara University Library are spending about $10 million of the facility's $82 million construction cost on an innovative automated retrieval system that uses interior computerized cranes to find stored materials.

Wisconsin-based HK systems was contracted to install the ARS, one of only eight such systems in place or under construction at universities in the United States.

Steve Sieber, project manager with Milpitas-based Devcon Construction, the project's general contractor, said four universities are currently using the ARS include California State University, Northridge; Eastern Michigan University; Sonoma State University; and University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Four other schools that are in various stages of implementing an ARS include Valparaiso, Cleveland State, University of British Columbia and, of course, Santa Clara.

Devcon and architects Pfeiffer Partners of Los Angeles are the design/build team for SCU's new 194,000-sq.-ft. library project.

The steel superstructure housing the ARS is currently connected to the old Orradre Library, which will utilize the system beginning in January. Depending on additional funding and contributions, demolition of the Orradre Library will take place in July, construction of the new library next to the old one will begin in September and completion is scheduled for September 2007.

Sieber said the system "saves space" by operating vertically rather than the space limits placed on tiered floors. The system stores bound and printed materials in specially designed vertical storage units. Using three computer-controlled cranes inside the facility, the system is designed to select from an online catalog and retrieve any item in less than five minutes.

Books will probably be the last category of materials to be moved in the ARS, SCU officials said. Initially, some older bound periodicals, some government documents, archival and special collection materials, and monographs will be loaded.

The new three-story library will have a capacity of 900,000 less-frequently used items, 150,000 more than the current SCU capacity, university officials said.

Pfeiffer Partners designed the new library as a flexible facility that can be adaptable to future changes in both learning styles and technology. A variety of types of seating for both individuals and groups is planned, and the availability of natural light throughout the facility is an important consideration, Pfeiffer officials said. Raised floors for distribution of power, communication media, and heating and air conditioning will make reconfiguring the facility much less expensive than more rigidly designed structures, including the existing library.