Fire safety renovation projects will take place at the John Peace Library over the next year to improve accessibility and safety for students and faculty.
The Fire Life Safety Project began over the winter break with the first phase starting on December 19. The project was initiated by the UTSA Offices of Facilities and Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Management to ensure the library meets the latest regulatory best practices in fire safety.
Gone will be the wooden slats surrounding much of the 3rd floor elevator landing area, replaced by state-of-the-art fire rated glass walls. New glass magnetic doors will be installed at several of the library’s stairwells and around the 3rd floor-landing perimeter. Updates to the 1st floor entryway on the Main Building side of JPL are also in the works, and will necessitate temporary closures lasting through January 8, requiring entry through the Sombrilla side doors.
The majority of the work will take place on the 3rd floor and may take several months to complete. Noise levels will be higher during construction and will be regulated to minimize disruption to users when possible. Construction is expected to conclude on Jan. 8 and will resume during Spring Break. During this time "PR" stacks will be partially closed and may need to be retrieved by library staff if requested by patrons.
In preparation for the project, the 2nd floor scanners and copiers/printers have been relocated, and several 3rd floor items were moved to accommodate construction, including map cabinets, study carrels, study tables, student computers and the PrintSpot station.
“There will be a lot of work going on in the JPL,” said Candy Bass, UTSA Libraries Facilities and Operations Manager. “All of the projects are designed to provide students with the highest level of safety and comfort as they embark on or continue their academic journeys.”
The John Peace Library underwent an extensive five-year renovation project that wrapped up in 2014.
For more information on JPL’s upcoming renovations, contact Candy Bass at candy.bass@utsa.edu.