Curry Architects was brought in as the Architect of Record to assist the client, contractor, and Design Architect to value engineer the design and drawings to reduce the construction estimate to better align with the university’s original construction budget. A savings of over 60% was achieved in collaboration with the design architect by reducing the square footage, removing additional stories to keep the program on one level, thus eliminating the need for elevators and stairs, and other value engineering tactics.

Designed initially as a 70,000-square-foot two-story library with a black box theater, faculty wing, and dean’s suite, the redesign resulted in a similar program with reduced square footage and a simpler event center rather than a theater element. An outdoor amphitheater was added to the scope during the design process, so the construction budget was modified to accommodate the additional site work. The library opened in Spring 2024.