Delays hit UNLV’s $50 million library

Aaron Clemens

Friday, June 2, 2000 | 11:29 a.m.

UNLV's $50 million Lied Library has run into more problems that may delay its opening until late November. The library was originally slated to open in spring 1999.

"There are things we have no control over," Ken Marks, UNLV's dean of libraries, said today.

Tibesar Construction, the general contractor, has blamed delays on faulty maps as well as demands for changes from UNLV and the architect.

State Public Works Director Eric Raecke said today that UNLV should be given control of the building Monday. He added that the 301,000-square-foot building is the most complex project ever built in Nevada.

By Marks' account, it will take about four months to finish wiring the extensive electrical network and test it, one month to six weeks to get furniture moved in and three weeks to move the collections.

That means a fully functional library probably won't be ready until the end of November.

The permanent accreditation of the Boyd Law School may be pushed back as well because of the library delay. The school will move into the James R. Dickinson Library after UNLV's collections are moved.

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