This renovation enables NAU to reinvest reclaimed library space to support academic excellence, enhance student-facing services, and relocate faculty and staff to move them out of the aging Babbitt Academic Annex.

The vision is to create an integrated academic environment that enhances teaching, research, collaboration, and student success—while reducing deferred maintenance, operational costs, and risk.

Life Safety & Code Compliance 

• Install dedicated piping to fully separate HVAC and fire suppression systems, including a waterless FLS for Special Collection and Archives.

• Ensure that all fire alarm and fire protection systems are updated and code compliant.

Deferred Maintenance & Infrastructure Renewal 

• Address prioritized building deferred maintenance needs.

Academic Space Realignment 

• Relocate College of Arts & Letters – English Department into Cline Library.

• Construct classrooms, faculty offices, GA spaces, and collaboration rooms.

• Support student success through co-location of services.

Strategic Campus Optimization 

• Enable decommissioning and demolition of Babbitt Academic Annex.

• Align academic programs and support functions within a centralized library hub.

• Foster cross-disciplinary engagement.

• Active construction in Cline starting December 2026 for relocation May 2027. These dates are to support the demolition of Babbitt Academic Summer of 2027

May to November 2026

• Cline Library will reduce the physical book collection space requirements to make room for the relocation of the English Department.
• Cline Library will be prepping Special Collections and Archives (SCA) materials for a move to protect them during HVAC and Fire Life Safety work.
• Planning and design will be completed for HVAC and Fire Life Safety system changes.
• Code compliance changes will be identified. Planning for these improvements will be completed by December 2026.
• Faculty, staff, and student space design and planning for Liberal Arts – English.

December 2026 to May 2027

• Construction will begin in December 2026 to create faculty, staff, and student space for the English Department.
• English Department move in May 2027

June-December 2027

• HVAC, Fire Life Safety, Code compliance construction complete by end of December 2027.

1. Jeff McKay, Vice President for Capital Planning and Campus Operations
2. John Georgas, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Operations
3. Josh Spear, Director of Planning, Design & Construction
4. Kelly Davis, Project Manager, Planning, Design & Construction
5. Stephanie Bauer, Associate Vice President, Facilities & Maintenance
6. Valerie Barret, Space Planner
7. Jordan Sundin, Assistant Manager for Commissioning & Controls
8. Cynthia Childrey, Dean and University Librarian, Cline Library
9. Jill Friedman, Assistant Dean, Cline Library
10. Peter Runge, Department Head, Special Collections & Archives, Cline Library
11. Andrew See, Department Head, User Services & Experience, Cline Library
12. Cline Student Employee
13. Julie Piering, Dean College of Arts & Letters (CAL)
14. Angie Hansen, Department Chair of English, CAL
15. Nicole Price, Department Chair of Global Languages & Cultures, CAL
16. Katherine Tullmann, Department Chair of Philosophy, CAL
17. Leila Danielson, Department Chair or History, CAL