By Josh Buntin & Ciera L’Huillier
Groundbreaking changes are coming to a major landmark at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB). The David A. Cofrin Library is set to be torn down, with the Cofrin Technology & Education Center taking its place. The plan was approved by the Wisconsin State Legislature in 2021 with a budget of 96 million dollars as part of Governor Tony Evers’ 2021-2023 annual budget. Construction is currently planned to begin in late 2024 and conclude in late 2026.
The project was announced in 2021 in response to the increasingly deteriorating conditions of the current building. The conditions include issues with the cladding on the outside of the building, which could lead to bricks falling off. The HVAC system is also “not in good shape,” according to university staff. There are also concerns about the building’s use and its sustainability, which is a major concern of the university. A study conducted by UWGB prior to the announcement found that it would be cheaper to build a new building than to renovate and restore the current Cofrin Library.
The Cofrin Library has stood on campus since 1972 and was designed to be the center of the UWGB campus. Its namesake, David A. Cofrin, and his wife, Mary Ann Cofrin, were philanthropists and benefactors to the university with contributions of over 22 million dollars. The library holds over 285,000 volumes and a vast collection of digital resources. The library’s vast resources are available to both students and the wider community.
According to university staff, the new Cofrin Technology and Education Center, to be built on the spot where the Phoenix statue now stands, just outside the current library, will be finished and open before the demolition of the Cofrin Library begins.
The new building will also be more than just a library, which is why it is not being called a library. The new building will have several student resources the current library does not have, such as student success, a technology hub, as well as archives like the current library has. This will allow students, faculty, and the community to continue to use the Cofrin Technology and Education Center for research.
Susan Grant Robinson, the UWGB Chancellor’s Chief of Staff, said the project is on track to be finished by 2026.
When asked about what could be expected with the rebuild and how it would affect students, Robinson said, “As with any major construction project, we expect there will be disruptions that will impact everyone on the campus to varying degrees.” With that, the current Cofrin Library will remain open and will continue to be accessible to students during the rebuilding process. “As we work on the implementation plan, we will do our best to anticipate and minimize those moments as best we can,” said Robinson.
Inflation and supply chain issues experienced nationwide continue to plague the project’s progress. Robinson acknowledged the problems, saying, “Yes, inflation is still a significant factor along with supply chain issues in certain business sectors that we’ll need to keep an eye on as we get closer to finalizing the design.” Despite this, Robinson confirmed the project is still on track to be completed in late 2026.
Paula Ganyard, the Director of the Cofrin Library, said, “I am excited about a number of things. The idea of the new services we will be able to offer is exciting, but in particular, I think that having various technological resources, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), will provide students with more opportunities.
Even though the library will not be connected by UWGB’s tunnel system, Ganyard does not believe this will pose a problem.
“Moving the location of the building will allow us to remain in the current building while we build the new one, which will save us money. This will then provide the University the opportunity to create a true quad that we don’t currently have,” said Ganyard. A true quad means a common space like a courtyard but indoors.
While the building’s debut will certainly bring in the public, “more importantly, it will be an attraction because of the programs and services that will be available in the new building,” said Ganyard.
After connecting with a computer science major, Taulant Matraku, he shared, “One thing I wish wasn’t the case is the new building being separate from the rest of campus. That means that you’ll have to bring extra clothes in the winter if you want to stop by there in between classes or whenever.” It is known that the tunnel system not connecting to the new library may not be a student preference, but Matraku validated the building will still have its perks, “As long as the renovations keep the library in close proximity to the rest of the campus buildings, I’m sure students will be happy to use this space.”
Matraku also shared what he is most excited about and even has some recommendations on what resources students could benefit from. “I am hoping the library project provides new technologies, computers, and possibly even an Apple lab full of computers that have Apple OS ready to be used for students,” said Matraku. He mentioned that, especially in the computer science department, this may be a useful addition to the new building. “There are many coding languages that students must learn to program in, so having access to Apple computers to learn one language known as Swift while using XCode IDE (Integrated Development Environment) would be a great help for students,” said Matraku.
This upcoming project will certainly impact the student staff workers as well. Grace Prust, a library worker, and UWGB student, said that while she won’t be a student when the new building is completed, she is “personally excited to come back to campus in the next five or 10 years, or whenever I’m back in the area, and see this new building in progress or completed.” While not speaking for everyone, she is excited by the project because the new building is needed, and “I think everyone is excited about the possibilities of this new chapter,” said Prust. Prust is currently unsure of any changes in duties for library staff once the building is completed.
One early issue with the project was how the 911 tower, which stands on top of the Cofrin Library, would be replaced, which provides 911 coverage to the area. This issue has since been resolved by using 2.2 million dollars in COVID-19 relief money to pay for the replacement. The new tower will not be placed on the Cofrin Technology & Education Center and will instead be constructed south of the Brown County Jail And Juvenile Detention Center (WLUK FOX11). The cost to replace the tower was originally estimated at five million dollars. In 2022, UWGB chancellor Michael Alexander said they would be looking for input from students and staff on design plans for the new building. The university is currently working on design plans, and once they are completed, they will be presented to campus staff and students. A website is planned to be launched where stakeholder input will be gathered. The university is excited by the new building and looks forward to its completion.
