Downs-Jones Library Receives Excellence in Construction Awards
Monday Oct, 21 2013
(AUSTIN, Texas) 10.21.13 — Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC), Central Texas Chapter, announced their 2013 Excellence in Construction and Safety Awards that included the Downs-Jones Library, renovated by J.E. Dunn Construction and CasaBella Architects, as a winner in two categories: Award of Excellence and Award of Merit.
The 16,000 square-foot, split-level $2.3 million library renovation includes open spaces, study and computer areas, main stacks, the circulation desk, a central master staircase with glass handrails, and the Ram Café on the main level. Media services, a classroom, and additional reading rooms are housed on the lower level. Overall, the library is now equipped with an elevator, energy-efficient lighting with sensors, new heating and air conditioning units, upgraded windows units, advanced technological enhancements, and a new roof. The Downs-Jones Library was completed in 1960 and named for Dr. Karl Everett Downs, President of Samuel Huston College from 1943-1948; and Dr. William H. Jones, President of Tillotson College from 1944- 1952. The library offers a fully-integrated automated system for students, faculty, and staff access to thousands of bound books, more than 33,000 ebooks in various disciplines, and 250,000 ejournals, as well as access to leading news and opinion magazines. As a participating library in Journal Storage (JSTOR), ProQuest, and TexShare (a state-wide resource sharing program), the Huston-Tillotson community is able to access electronic databases (fulltext journal articles included), borrow books directly from other libraries, and request materials through interlibrary loan. Patrons also have access to the collection of African American newspapers online. In addition, the library houses a non-circulating archival collection, representing the institution’s history, administrative documents, papers (of the former Presidents of the institution), yearbooks, and memorabilia. Finally, the National Endowment for the Humanities Bridging Cultures initiative awarded HT the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf collection. The collection consists of 25 books and three films. The “Let’s Talk About It” reading and discussion series features some of the materials included in the Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys that will be part of the HT curriculum.
The annual award competition recognizes ABC member construction contributions in several areas, including safety. Winners receive a coveted American Eagle statue.
