When students came back from Spring break on April 11, there was something different about the building that the Parker community had been anticipating for weeks. The Kovler Library and its front hallway were completely closed off due to construction that began on the previous Monday, April 3.

The renovation, which will cost approximately $5 million, was planned out by the school’s librarians and TIDES (Technology, Innovation, Design Thinking, and Entrepreneurship) committee members. Many of the new library’s features capture the “design thinking” aspect of construction.  Take, for example, the “Cloud,” an outdoor reading area which will be an extension of the east side of the library.

Annette Lesak, Middle and Upper School Librarian, expressed her excitement about the new library.  She explained the lengthy planning period in which she participated with other Parker faculty members. “It’s been a three year process to get to this point,” she said. “We had design workshops a couple years ago… it’s kind of nice to turn it over to the professionals.”

Parker collaborated with the company Wonder, by Design to create all aspects of the full-scale renovation, including a TIDES garage, a space for Google Hangouts and Skype sessions, and more outdoor spaces.

There was some backlash after the Parker community got news of the renovation, particularly about the cost.

“I think that the cost is really high, but I hope it will show in how the library turns out,” sophomore Hannah Kershner said.  “I think that it will be a great space for groups to study.”

“I think that it’s crazy to spend money on something like that,” junior Bianca Delbusto said.  “I wish that the person or people donated the money to another school that needed it more.”

Lesak noted that all funding for the library was “solely based on donations from parents and alumni.”

“I’m really excited to see how all the new ideas for the library turn out,” junior Maya Sanghvi said.  “It’s a space I spent a lot of time in before it closed, so I hope it continues to be a place to hang out.”

“Ultimately it’s going to be a good thing,” Lesak said. “It’s been so thoughtfully designed, and hopefully it will meet everyone’s needs.”

The new library is scheduled to open before the start of the 2017-18 school year.