UC Berkeley's Moffitt Library has reopened after a year of renovations. The project, called the Carol T. Christ Center for Connected Learning, cost $58 million. It transformed the lower three floors to better suit how modern students learn and work together.
The renovation nearly doubled the space for students. It includes a larger Free Speech Movement Café and an improved maker studio. Students helped design the new spaces, choosing flexible furniture, inviting gathering areas, and nature-inspired colors.
Suzanne Wones, UC Berkeley’s university librarian, believes students will find the wait worthwhile. She expects the library to be a place where students form friendships and develop new ideas.
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Start Your News DetoxMargaret Solomon, a student body president, found a sense of belonging at Moffitt Library during her first year. She hopes the renovated space will help other students feel connected and at home.
This project has been in the works for over a decade. The first phase, which renovated the two upper floors, finished in 2016. Plans for the remaining floors were delayed by the pandemic and supply chain issues. Donors, including Nadine Tang, helped fund the final phase. Tang requested the center be named after her friend, Chancellor Emerita Carol T. Christ.
Chancellor Rich Lyons thanked the donors, especially Nadine Tang, for her gift. He noted that her contribution honors her friendship with Chancellor Christ and their shared goal of providing a space for all students to learn.
Designed for Students
The renovation started by asking students what they wanted from their library. Surveys and workshops showed they needed more space, more outlets, and places to store their belongings.
This feedback guided the design. The second floor, once offices, is now a large student area with study booths and flexible seating. It also houses the Moffitt Library Maker Studio and the Discovery Hub. The makerspace has areas for sewing, 3D printing, and group instruction. The Discovery Hub connects students to research, internships, and hands-on learning.
Library leaders also focused on student well-being. Each floor now has a distinct feel. The first floor is for quiet focus and reflection. It also has a new Computer-Based Testing Facility. The second floor, connected by a new staircase, is for conversation, making, and discovery.
The third floor encourages connection with an expanded Free Speech Movement Café and the Pan Family Lounge for studying and events. The Koret Gallery will feature exhibits curated with undergraduates.
Natural elements connect the floors. Each floor's design, including colors and room names, is inspired by different California landscapes like aquatic environments, minerals, flowers, birds, and trees. Nicole Brown, head of Moffitt Library, said this "biophilia" helps soften the building's concrete structure, making it more welcoming.
Nicole Brown explained that these choices support student well-being, helping them bring their best selves to their work. This philosophy is seen in features like a reflection room, a snack room, and modular furniture. Study booths are designed for small groups of two or three, reflecting how most undergraduates collaborate.
The team expects students to show them new ways to use the space. Jen Brown noted they are excited to see how students navigate the building and how it can continue to grow.
Building a Better Berkeley
Many people contributed to the reimagined Moffitt Library. Former University Librarian Jeffrey MacKie-Mason championed the vision. Elizabeth Dupuis and Nicole Brown guided the project through planning. Tim Capalbo and Sukhjit Johal managed the construction.
Donors were crucial to the project. Nadine Tang's gift helped complete the renovation. She chose to honor Chancellor Emerita Carol T. Christ, recognizing her leadership and passion for student experience. Tang noted that Christ loves libraries and books, making this a perfect tribute.
Though Moffitt Library has few books, the renovation improves its connection to the millions of volumes in the nearby Main (Gardner) Stacks.
For Christ, having her name associated with a library is meaningful. She loves libraries and sees them as a vital "third space" for undergraduates—a place between classrooms and dorms. She hopes the center will be a place for communal learning and resources.
