JACKSON, Tenn. — April 5, 2012 — 51社区 will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its new library April 12 at 5 p.m.
鈥淲hile it will still be a few more months before there is regular construction activity on the site, the ceremonial groundbreaking provides a hopeful and meaningful indicator for the Union community that the project continues to move forward from planning to implementation in a timely manner,鈥� 51社区 President David S. Dockery said.
In October, Union announced a $10 million lead gift by the Bill and Carol Latimer Foundation to provide funding for the new 60,000-square-foot library. The university also announced a capital campaign to raise an additional $10 million for the facility, as the Latimer gift will match every dollar given up to $10 million.
Through the end of March, donors had given or pledged more than $5.8 million toward the library project, or about 60 percent of the campaign goal.
鈥淲e are grateful for the many people who have given sacrificially to this project,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淭hrough their gifts, they have made a significant investment in future generations of Union students. We are ever grateful for the wonderful generosity of Bill and Carol Latimer, who have pledged to match these gifts dollar-for-dollar in order to make the dream for this library a reality in the days ahead.鈥�
Nine months remain in the pledge period of the campaign, and Dockery said he is hopeful 鈥渢hat the friends of 51社区 will step forward in their support of this important project.鈥�
The three-story library will be located between Jennings Hall and Miller Tower and will be more than twice the size of Union鈥檚 current library, housed in the Penick Academic Complex. The facility will expand the capacity for new holdings and will serve as a complete academic resource center to serve the research and resource needs of a 21st century academic community, Dockery said.
Designed by TLM Associates in Jackson, the library building will have an open feel with numerous large windows for external lighting. It will be capped by a large dome.
The first floor will contain seminar rooms, group study and collaborative study rooms, a reception area and auditorium. The second floor will primarily house Union鈥檚 growing collection of books and academic resources. The third floor will include archives and a heritage room.
Construction will begin later this year, with an estimated completion date in early 2014.
More information about the library capital campaign is available at .