After more than five years of renovations, Battle Hall reopened to the public this August. Students can now return to the space while final renovations are completed and archival collections are returned to the library.
Since 2021, the building has undergone renovations to update its mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems while restoring the roof, windows and ironwork.
“We were making do with a lot of stuff, but now we’re actually moving into an era of really having the best kind of environment and the best kinds of ways to highlight our collections and our spaces,” said Katie Pierce Meyer, head of Architectural Collections at the University of Texas Libraries.
Final renovations are continuing while Battle Hall is open to the public, including the installation of a publicly accessible elevator and new thermostats. More than 150 archival collections, some possibly dating to the 16th century, are being moved back into Battle Hall.
“Pretty soon, we hope to have everything back over here for people to browse and look at,” Meyer said. “I’m happy that we’ve been able to provide some continuity of our services and our collections throughout the renovation and project, but it’ll be really nice to have everything back over here.”
Last year, the University renamed the library in Battle Hall to the John S. Chase Architecture and Planning Library. The change was made to honor John S. Chase, the School of Architecture’s first Black graduate and Texas’s first licensed Black architect. A dedication ceremony to celebrate the new name will take place later this fall, along with an exhibition highlighting both the building and Chase’s life.
A $5 million gift from Tony Chase, John’s son, and Tony’s wife, Dina Al-Sowayel, will support the library and School of Architecture’s future plans.
“It was always important to me that my dad’s life was unique and meaningful and impactful,” Tony said. “It just made sense to me that I’d do anything I needed to do in order to make sure that his legacy was remembered.”
Meyer said no future updates to the library are finalized, but she would like to see money put toward expanding services and supporting students’ research.
Students are already making use of the reopened library in Battle Hall.
“It really captures the collegiate, old feeling of locking in,” senior theater and dance major Juno Adair said. “I can lock in better when I’m in a beautiful academic place.”