Bird Library Special Collections Research Center

SU Photo & Imaging RS 8687

Ernest Stevenson Bird Library

Groundbreaking: 1969

Open to public: September 1972

Dedicated: April 6, 1973

Dedication Speaker: Dr. William P. Tolley, retired SU Chancellor

Architects: King and King Associates

Location: 222 Waverly Avenue

Cost: $13.8 million

Funding: Ernest Stevenson Bird, Class of 1916, donated $3 million; George Arents, Hon. '33, $2 million; funding from parents of Syracuse University students, trustees of the University, and many other private donors; additionally, the federal government contributed $3 million under Titles I and II.

Space: 212,000 square feet, 7 floors

Notes: The move of over 1 million volumes and millions more manuscripts, pamphlets, microforms, media and other items in the collection from Carnegie Library, the library annex in the Continental Can Building and branch libraries began on July 31, 1972. The move took more than one month. On August 17, 1973, the library was closed to the public while tests were conducted to determine the stress capacity of the structure. Testing was completed at the request of the State Dormitory Authority. Concrete blocks were layered on the 5th floor equal to 150 lbs. per square foot while readings were made every three hours.

Bird Library underwent renovations in 2019 to provide space for the new Center for Undergraduate Research and in 2021 for the new Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence.