Summertime was Construction Time for Copley Library, Learning Commons, More

Summertime in San Diego brings visions of sunny days at the beach, time with friends and traveling all around to soak up all the fun that's possible. Meanwhile, at the University of San Diego, the summer  months marked the beginning of important construction projects, the finishing of a few projects and all kinds of improvements to what is already one of the nation's most beautiful campuses.

Zack Knipe, USD’s director of planning, design and construction, was among several people on hand at a recent pop-up University Operations event in front of the Hahn University Center to answer questions people had about the Renaissance Plan and other projects.

Posters explaining the latest information on construction projects including current work on Copley Library, the creation of the Learning Commons building behind the library, planned work on both Camino and Founders halls and the new Knauss Center for Business Education, were on display.

Currently, Copley Library is drastically reduced in space and size. The Mother Rosalie Hill Reading Room space is intact and all who enter the library this semester must do so from Camino Hall and through a door that passes the Center for Education Excellence. 

The Learning Commons, which is still in the space-clearing stage, will its foundation poured later in October. As a result of the construction, all traffic next to Mother Rosalie Hill Hall is a one-way street that winds around and goes east.

Both the Copley Library and Learning Commons spaces are expected to be ready for business when the 2020 fall semester arrives, Knipe said. Both projects are on time. 

One project not displayed at the pop-up event was the newly opened Ministry Center and accompanying University Ministry offices and meeting space, all of which were named in honor of Monsignor Daniel J. Dillabough. The center has opened and it had two days of formal dedication ceremonies on Sept. 5 and 6. The Ministry Center project started in Summer 2018.

Another project completed this summer was a kitchen makeover for the space behind O’Tooles/La Gran Terraza. Knipe said the project, which was a complete overhaul and included energy-efficient additions, took 10 weeks.

To learn more about the Renaissance Plan and other campus projects, please visit University Operations’ website page.

— Ryan T. Blystone