This Time They Won't Throw In the Towell

Towell

From the Bruin: Powell Library will remain under construction for the next eight to 10 months following a restructuring guided by UCLA’s new seismic rating system.

The reconstruction began in November and will continue through early next year, following UCLA’s seismic safety review procedure. Skanska USA Building Inc. won the bid for the $17 million construction contract, according to the Construction Journal.

Construction on the second floor has closed the area. Other remodeling work also blocks the main outdoor passageway to Powell from Kerckhoff Hall, forcing students to take detours, such as one through Janss Steps.

Powell was first built in 1929, receiving additions to strengthen the building seismically in 1957. In January 1994, the magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake damaged the ceiling of the main reading room in the library. Now, steel beams will be placed on the ceiling to increase the structural security of the building, according to the UCLA Library website. The beams will not be visible once construction is complete, according to the website...

The construction is necessary, but it takes away from students by restricting their access to the library, said Melanie Cabrera, a second-year public affairs student who works security at the library...

Full story at https://dailybruin.com/2023/04/27/powell-library-to-remain-under-construction-for-seismic-safety-till-early-2024. 

Last time there was a seismic upgrade, a Temporary Powell (Towell) was erected. Apparently, no such grand plan was made for this time. See:

https://newsroom.ucla.edu/magazine/temporary-powell-library-towell.