Rendering of M-Level from the Beach entrance

Reimagining MSE Library

An ambitious renovation and thorough interior redesign of Milton S. Eisenhower Library will reinvent Johns Hopkins University’s flagship library as an inspiring and welcoming space for 21st-century learning and research.

MSE was an engineering feat when it first opened in 1964. 60 years later, the 182,000-square-foot building is overdue for critical upgrades to comply with modern building, safety, and accessibility standards. Its design was for a student body less than half the size of today’s, and whose study habits were different. Construction will begin in summer 2024 following a decade of preparation and planning that included students, faculty, and staff in establishing shared priorities and goals.

Key Design Priorities

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Illuminate

Natural and natural-looking light

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Open-up spaces, double-height spaces

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Flexible

Reconfigurable spaces and ability to evolve

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Universal Design

Enhance usability and accessibility

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Sustainability

Reduce negative environmental impact

Goals for MSE Library

Support student study in a welcoming environment
Provide collaboration rooms, quiet individual study seats, and dedicated graduate study study spaces.

Respond to the growing use of rare books and archives
Create a new home for Special Collections with appropriate space for research and teaching, and for showcasing unique materials.

Facilitate both digital and print-based scholarship
Create two new spaces: a Digital Scholarship Lab and Learning Studio and Material Collections Research and Teaching Center.

Establish significant exhibition capabilities
Create a dedicated exhibit space for the Homewood campus as part of a broader, revamped exhibition program.

Expand opportunities for engagement
Provide flexible event space to host programming related to exhibitions, speaker series, and faculty/library projects.

Headshot of Elisabeth M. Long in front of stained glass windows
How we study, how we research, and how we do our work as a university is radically different from what it was in 1964. We’re looking to transform MSE into a modern library that meets modern needs.
Elisabeth M. Long
Sheridan Dean of University Libraries, Archives, and Museums

Library Service Plan During MSE Renovation

Several main spaces on the Homewood campus will offer library services and resources during the renovation:

  • The former Johns Hopkins Club building:  The primary library service point and study space. The building has a mix of spaces to accommodate both quiet and collaborative study. This building will house library services including book pick-up, course reserves, printing, and research consultations. There will be a security desk and the hours will be the same as Brody, including 24-hour availability during reading period and exams.
  • Brody Learning Commons: Brody will remain open and continue to provide access to Special Collections, study spaces, printers, and the café.
  • Hutzler Reading Room in Gilman Hall: The south wing of the Hutzler Reading Room in Gilman Hall will be dedicated to the disciplines that heavily on print reference materials in their teaching and research.  New book shelves will hold reference collections and a reservable seminar table will be available for classes that need access to these materials.
  • Hodson Hall:  Additional study spaces will be available in the Hodson Reading Room and the first, second, and third floor lobby areas. The third floor Board Room will be transformed into a designated graduate student study space.

Project Timeline

Feasibility Study final report Fall 2019
Program Planning Fall 2021 
Schematic Design Spring 2023
Design Development Winter 2024
Construction Design Spring 2024
Construction begins June 21, 2024
Transformation planned for Milton S. Eisenhower Library

The multiyear renovation will transform MSE into a more modern, accessible, and innovative resource for both digital and print-based scholarship at Johns Hopkins University

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Image Gallery

Rendering of Q-Level
Rendering of new home for Special Collections on M-Level
Rendering of double-height reading room on C-Level

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Will MSE Library be open during the renovation?

    The MSE Library building is scheduled to close June 21, 2024 and remain closed for the duration of the project. All library services will be available during the renovation.

  • Will Brody Learning Commons be open during the renovation?

    Yes, Brody will remain open during construction. The Hutzler Reading Room in Gilman Hall will also be open.

  • Will the renovated building occupy the existing structure or will there be an entirely new building?

    Yes, the renovation will be within the existing footprint.

  • Where are the books going? How can I access them during the renovation?

    The books are being relocated to off-site storage and will be requestable through Catalyst, the Hopkins Libraries online catalog. Books on reserve will still be available on campus for short-term borrowing. We plan to do more delivery runs to ensure quick access to items during the renovation. There will be a new service point established on campus for book pick-up service. Some heavily-used reference collections from disciplines like Classics, Near Eastern Studies, and History of Art will be relocated to the Hutzler Reading Room.

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