McDermott Library At UT Dallas
to Undergo Renovation This Summer

RICHARDSON, Texas (May 10, 2001) – Beginning this summer, the McDermott Library at The University of Texas at Dallas will undergo a multi-million dollar renovation that will continue through the fall.   The improvements are made possible by a donation from Mrs. Eugene McDermott, widow of a co-founder of both Texas Instruments and the research center that in 1969 became UTD.

 “This project is a part of our ongoing efforts to maintain the McDermott Library among the leading academic libraries in the region,” said Dr. Larry Sall, director of libraries at U.T. Dallas.  “We are grateful to Mrs. McDermott for her keen interest and devotion in making this library a premier element of UTD.”

 Work will begin on the fourth floor of the library.  Shelving will be changed from an east-west direction to a north-south alignment.  Aisles will be wide enough to accommodate patrons in wheel chairs.  The McDermott Suite on the fourth floor will be expanded.  Existing balconies will be brought indoors, and concrete flooring will be added where internal open spaces currently exist.  Library administration offices will be temporarily relocated, and the photographic services studio will be permanently moved to the first floor.  Upgrades will be made later to the third floor

 “We hope the disruptions will be minor, and we encourage students and patrons to work with us as we go through these improvements,” Sall said.  “We recommend that researchers consult our website (www.utdallas.edu/library) for updated information about the progress and availability of certain materials and resources.”

The architectural work is being done by Booziotis & Company Architects of Dallas. PageSoutherlandPage LLP of Dallas is doing the mechanical and electrical engineering work.  A grand re-opening of the McDermott Library is scheduled for mid-fall.

In work unrelated to the interior renovations, a major overhaul of the four large air handlers on the roof of the McDermott Library building is under way.  Those repairs are expected to take two to three months.

About UTD

The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor ®, enrolls approximately 6,500 undergraduate and 4,500 graduate students. The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs.  For additional information about UTD, please visit the university’s web site at www.utdallas.edu.