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The Library Building Addition subseries includes documents related to the major renovation that occurred in 1980. Of particular importance is the debate whether or not to construct the new library underground. In addition to the manuscript materials is one folder of architectural drawings. The drawings relate to proposals from various architects for the library building addition. The drawings include exterior elevations, plot plans, and renderings of interiors. Additional material on the design of the award-winning underground addition to the library may be found in the records of Gunnar Birkerts and Associates. Birkerts designed the addition and the records of his architectural firm are held at the Bentley Library.

The bulk of the Library Building Addition files were added in 2006. These files include Building Committee Files which contain all materials related to the library addition, including correspondence between library administration and the architect, Gunnar Birkerts and Associates, as well as questionnaires, reports, and sketches of proposed additions to the law library. This collection also houses newspaper clippings and published articles related to the University of Michigan's project, compared to other academic library additions being built during this same period. The Student Building Committee is also represented in this collection.