Last fall, West Point opened the Jefferson Hall-USMA Library and Learning Center on the U.S. Military Academy's Hudson Valley, N.Y., campus, a National Historic Site. The $62 million, 141,000-square-foot building brings together the Cadet Library, the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) and the Center for Enhanced Performance (CEP). The CTE provides faculty instructional spaces, and the CEP assists cadets with learning techniques and problem-solving methods.
Interactive learning centers, group study, technology-rich classrooms and 900 individual study spaces emphasize the integration of a variety of teaching and learning tools, and foster student-faculty interaction. The library also serves as a repository for more than 1 million books and other materials.
The six-story granite and glass building advances West Point's 19th-century, Military Gothic style into the 21st century. Jefferson Hall's two end towers are composed of granite blocks. Centered between the towers is a full-height curtainwall, composed of blast-resistant glass and precast concrete mullions, which frames views of the campus, bluff and river beyond. Other design elements include amber-colored glass brick to filter light into an archival area partially below grade, and exposed structural clay tile walls to bring warmth to the entry lobby and collection areas.
The building has achieved a bronze rating under the Army's SPiRiT program — similar to a LEED certification. STV (New York City) is architect of record and engineer; and Holzman Moss Architecture (New York City) is design architect.
Start: 2005
Completion: 2008
Project area: 141,000 sq. ft.
Cost: $62 million
