Founders Library, closed since last summer to replace the building’s water pipes, will likely reopen near the end of the semester, Howard’s Executive Director of Physical Facilities Management Timothy Millner said.
Originally planned for completion by fall 2024, Millner’s “best estimate” of when the building’s doors will open is now the end of spring 2025. He said the department currently has a time frame of April or May.
Initially, Irreno Construction was contracted to renovate two or three bathrooms. However, as the extent of the damage to the pipes was revealed in demolition and construction, the project expanded to include renovations of “pretty much every restroom” in Founders, Millner said.
“Restrooms are being redone. They’re getting new fixtures, new toilets, new urinals new sinks,” he said. “All that has to be installed as well, and the walls and ceilings have to be repaired.”
Some aspects of the project are complete, like the removal of asbestos in the building and at least two of the bathrooms. But Millner said they “are still in the construction process” as there is still some demolition that needs to be completed and pipes that need to be removed and replaced.
“I think we’re right around 80 percent or so complete, give or take,” he said.
Howard has overseen the construction and renovation of several recently completed buildings, including The Miner Building and The Oliver. Millner stated that the completion of the renovation to Founders Library is the “highest priority” for his department.
Delays in the reopening of Founders have led students to become frustrated that the library is still unavailable for them to use.
“Founders being closed has been really detrimental to my academic experience,” Gabriella Walker said, a junior biology major and chemistry and psychology double minor from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
She emphasized that study spaces at Howard are already limited, and Founders being closed makes it even harder to find somewhere to complete coursework.
Brianna Harris, a junior biology major and chemistry minor from Georgia by way of St. Louis, shared a similar sentiment.
She said a big part of the Howard experience is being inside Founders and exploring its extensive stacks of books. She added closing Founders also closes off a student’s experience of the university.
She also believes communication from the university about when Founders will reopen has been “limited and lacking,” although she has hope the library will reopen before she graduates.
“I don’t even remember when they said it was going to be closed,” she said.
The last email communication regarding Founders from Howard’s Office of University Communications was sent in late August of 2024, which stated the library will “remain closed through mid-October” and that they would provide updates on the re-opening at a later date. These updates have not yet been sent through email.
Millner addressed the concerns of the student body.
“We’re frustrated with the delays too,” he said.
Additionally, Millner asked that students show patience as his department and the construction team work diligently to reopen the library.
“We can’t take shortcuts. It has to be done the right way,” he said.
He emphasized that once the renovations are complete, and there are working bathrooms and clean drinking water, students will have a much better Founders Library to enjoy.
Copy edited by Camiryn Stepteau
