Lutnick Library | Haverford College

Keast & Hood first gained experience with Haverford’s library while serving as the structural engineer for the building’s master plan in 2013. An amalgamation of four different structures, the library no longer effectively served the students or faculty.

Following a study of the building, Keast & Hood was retained to provide structural design for the renovation and addition. The original L-shaped library was constructed in 1860 with additions in 1890, 1912, 1941, 1951 and 1967. The historic portion of the building was retained in the new design. Selective demolition removed portions of the midcentury structure and infilled with the new addition. 

The new design focuses on a more efficient spatial configuration and circulation while featuring the historic 1890’s building. Project scope included design for a new feature stair, elevator, and clerestory which brings natural light into the space utilizing glulam arches. Structural scope was complicated by tight floor-to-floor ratios. To match the existing floor elevations, the structure utilized concrete flat slab construction. Engineers also maximized column spacing (at 22 feet on center) for open floor layouts. Additional design features include large skylights, existing building upgrades, landscape upgrades, design for mobile book stacks and a new basement addition.