In July, the schedule for Suzzallo Renovation calls for the erection of scaffolding along the western elevation of the 1925 building. Part of the seismic reinforcement work for the project includes adding anchors to pin back the cast stone and brickwork on this façade. In conjunction with this work, repairs from the Nisqually Earthquake will also be done. (For more information on earthquake repairs see the following "Impact of the Earthquake" article.)

Spring Quarter saw the completion of much of the seismic reinforcement work. Most of the shotcrete shear wall and concrete work was completed, including the new shotcrete shear walls in the Smith Room that flank the large west wall stained glass window.

Click on photo to see enlarged view

The other major structural milestone completed in Spring Quarter was the installation of the "bat wing," a structural drag strut installed above the Grand Stair Hall between the Octagon area and the Suzzallo Reading Room. The purpose of this drag strut is to seismically tie the Reading Room to the Octagon structure.

Structural brace-frames are also being added at the northern and southern corners of Suzzallo Reading Room. This work involves reinforcing the existing steel columns and adding diagonal struts between the columns. A particularly challenging piece of work will be to add a shotcrete shearwall between the columns, high up at each of the eastern corners. This brace-frame work continued through Spring Quarter and should be substantially complete by the end of June.

Work began in May on the ground floor main entrance to the 1925 building, to rebuild the columns and to seismically anchor the cast stones to new masonry backing. In the 1935 building, work is in full swing on all floors with the construction of the interior walls and installing electrical conduit, ductwork and piping systems. The existing steam radiators have been re-piped and positioned throughout the building. Plumbing is being installed for new and renovated restroom spaces. The new air handler was temporarily placed on the roof of the 1963 building in March, and in May it was moved into the eastern attic space of the 1935 building, and is now in the process of being connected.

In the 1963 building, work continued pretty much on track with the addition of six structural brace frames. By the end of June, work should be essentially complete on Floors 2 and 4. This work has occurred in and around an occupied section of the library. By erecting temporary partitions around the areas of work and with a tremendous amount of cooperation from all people involved, this work has proceeded very smoothly.

Impact of the Earthquake on Suzzallo Library
http://www.lib.washington.edu/about/suzzren/update.html

The Nisqually earthquake occurred at 10:55 a.m. on Wednesday, February 28, 2001. Within 10 minutes, Turner Construction had confirmed that all workers were safely out of the construction zones in Suzzallo, despite the fact that construction scaffolding moved approximately two feet.

Skilling, the structural engineering firm for the project, sent staff inside to complete a review of the building in order to note any structural damage. Construction work was suspended and workers were not allowed back into Suzzallo until the inspection could be done.

The occupied area of Suzzallo (1963 wing) was examined first, and within two hours after evacuation it was determined that this wing was safe to re-enter.

On March 1st, structural engineers began a review of the areas currently undergoing the seismic retrofit. The goal was to determine which areas, if any, were unsafe for workers to return to, and then design the appropriate fixes for damaged areas. The engineers discovered three areas that needed immediate attention:

1. At the West Entrance to the 1925 section, four finial caps on the uppermost points of the gothic façade had substantial damage (see graphic on page 1). Three of the finial caps came loose and fell 70 feet to the exterior porch of the West Entrance. The structural recommendation was to cordon-off the entire West Entrance until all 11 finial caps could be braced. They are now covered with cargo nets which will remain in place until remedial seismic repairs can be done. Currently, University administration is exploring the best way to replace the damaged finial caps.

2. In the Reading Room on the 3rd floor of the 1925 wing, there was noticeable movement of the north and south arches. A separation of approximately 3/4" is apparent where the cast stone meets the Caen stone. The structural engineer advised that this problem posed little structural danger, but that it would be wise to undertake the already-planned work to secure the cast stone to the existing steel columns as soon as possible.

3. In the courtyard between the 1925 and 1935 wings, the structure supporting Room 115A was temporarily braced until the Mechanical Room structural steel installation could be completed to secure that entire structure. Turner began this work on March 2nd and it is now complete.

There was surprisingly little structural damage overall, and the building reacted exactly the way the engineers expected. All parties agreed that it was extremely fortunate that 60% of the seismic upgrade work had been installed at the time of the earthquake. Had this event occurred a month sooner, the damage would have been substantially increased.

For more information about earthquake damage in other UW libraries, visit the Library Directions (Spring 2001) newsletter at: http://www.lib.washington.edu/about/libdirections/current

Suzzallo Myth Unraveled Have you ever taken or overheard a guided tour of Suzzallo and learned that the sculpture of Darwin on the façade of Suzzallo is missing his left leg because Henry Suzzallo, President of the University at the time the sculpture was created, wanted the monkey clinging to it removed? Legend has it Suzzallo was worried that opponents of the theory of evolution would not be amused by the small ape thumbing his nose at those below. Kay Douglas, a recent graduate of the Information School (Library Science), and Natural Sciences Library staff member, uncovered data that may prove this legend false.

Directory of Libraries in 1951, Harry C. Bauer, authored an article in Washington Alumnus (now Columns magazine), that stated the preliminary model of the sculpture originally had a monkey clinging to Darwin's left leg and thumbing his nose at people below. A 1978 article in University Report repeated the story, adding that Henry Suzzallo opposed the monkey's inclusion because he considered the monkey undignified.

Kay researched local newspapers and found editorial support for evolution, and contempt for William Jennings Bryan. Bryan was the prosecutor in the Scopes trial and a famed orator and politician. Local businesses even sold novelty monkey dolls, so it was unlikely that the Seattle community sided heavily with the anti-evolutionists.

Kay continued her pursuit of the truth in Manuscripts, Special Collections, University Archives, where she found an undated clipping from the Daily which may have been the source of the legend often repeated during library tours. The clipping, probably from 1992, is entitled "Suzzallo Censorship," and incorrectly placed the monkey on the finished version of the statue, and stated that Henry Suzzallo feared anti-evolutionist reaction. Now, thanks to Kay's research, we know this assumption may have been false.

To see the full article in University Week visit: http://depts.washington.edu/uweek/archives/2001.02.FEB_15/ or visit Kay's website: http://students.washington.edu/kaymd/

A new book by Norman Johnston, Professor Emeritus in the College of Architecture and Urban Planning, entitled The University of Washington, offers some interesting information about Suzzallo Library and the vision of the University's founding fathers.

Click on image to see enlarged view

The central location of the library visualized by Carl Gould (Bebb & Gould Architects), "was conceived in an ambitious Collegiate Gothic style, its equilateral triangle plan fitting neatly into the conjunction of the two axes. A towering campanile, thrusting above the core of the triangle, was to express the dominant role of the library in the physical and intellectual life of the institution."

The first two physical buildings of the equilateral triangle came to life in 1926 and 1935, but due to the demands of space as well as architectural design standards of the 60's, the third building and 300 foot tower were never built. The remaining 1925 octagon tower is, however, still six stories high.

The exterior of the 1924 building displays a series of three figures above the main entrance. These figures were sculpted by Alan Clark from Tacoma, and signified Thought, Inspiration, and Mastery.

A 1951 article by Harry C. Bauer, Director of Libraries at the time, states that the statues were based on living models. Mastery was based on the athletic, young superintendent of buildings and grounds, Charles C. May, and Jean Lambert from Tacoma served as the model for Inspiration. The prominent veins of old man Thought may have been modeled after a young man whose strong arm muscles worked to cast the statues

.

Click on photo to see enlarged view

Each one of the 36-foot-high leaded and stained glass windows of Suzzallo includes a medallion of selected watermarks used by early printers. Charles W. Smith, Reference Librarian at the time, is credited with the idea for the symbolism.

President Henry Suzzallo and the architectural firm of Bebb and Gould approved of Smith's idea, and in 1923 the Libraries purchased Les Filigranes: Dictionnaire Historique des Marques du Papier. This four volume set includes thousands of watermarks, twenty-eight of which distinguish the 56 windows of the massive hall that later became known as the Suzzallo Reading Room.

The 1935 building includes a room named for Charles W. Smith, who continued on as University Librarian for forty-two years. The Smith Room is rich with historical wall murals that depict early maps with topographical details, historical figures and flowers indigenous to the Pacific Northwest.

The Smith Room's large cathedral window incorporates the seal of the Washington Territory as well as the seal of the the Provisional Government of Oregon, Willamette University, Roman Catholic School at Nisqually, University of Oregon and Whitman College.

The leaded glass windows of the Smith Room also depict totem and shield designs, crests of four countries including the United States, and medallions that symbolize the exploration and settlement of the Northwest. After renovation is complete, this historic space will be more accessible to the public via a new corridor.

For more details about Suzzallo's artistic craftsmanship, pick up the brochure entitled "Suzzallo Library: Architecture and History" on your next visit to Suzzallo/Allen Libraries, or visit: http://www.lib.washington.edu/about/suzzren/newsletter/96suzzhistory2.pdf

For an interesting pictorial history of the University of Washington which includes several pictures of Suzzallo, please visit: http://www.washington.edu/home/historical/index.html and select "Begin Pictorial History."

Johnston, Norman J. The campus guide : University of Washington. Chronicle Books, 2001.