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Library History

Buildings

Old Main: the library occupied rooms in Old Main from 1880 to 1904. Old Main was destroyed by an arson fire in 1970.

Commercial Building: the library was housed in this building from 1904 to 1928. At present (2002), this renovated building is named Laurel Hall. It is located at the northeast corner of the Oval.

"Oval" library: this structure was the first on campus to be built specifically as a library. Located on the west side of the Oval, it opened in 1928 and had a capacity of 150,000 volumes. The building is Beaux-Arts style; the architect was Eugene Groves. At present (2002) this building houses the Music Department.

William E. Morgan Library: named after President Morgan, this structure opened in 1965. It contained 145,000 square feet, cost about $2.5 million, and had a planned capacity of 600,000 volumes. It was estimated that it could accommodate 2000 people. The architectural firm was James M. Hunter & Associates (Boulder, CO), while construction was handled by Hensel-Phelps Construction Company (Greeley, CO).

Addition to Morgan Library (including Griffin Wing): construction began in 1995 and was completed in 1998. Total project cost was approximately $20 million. The new structure added 109,000 additional square feet of space, room for 350,000 additional books and journals, and 900 additional user seats. Approximately $7.2 million was raised from donors, including the Griffin Foundation, which contributed $2.5 million. The architectural firms were Perry Dean Roger & Partners (Boston) and Luis O. Acosta (Denver). Construction was handled by Gerald H. Phipps General Contractors (Denver). The stonework is sandstone from a quarry in Masonville, CO. The interior designer for the addition, Mary-Ann Agresti, recollected in 2005 at least three artists whose paintings were used for the color palette for the building: Renoir, Monet, and van Gogh.

The trees in the courtyard are locust.