There’s a place that has been called the front porch of MSU: the North Plaza at the MSU Main Library. More than two million faculty, students, staff and community members pass through this location at the heart of campus every year, and with the help of Spartans everywhere, it will soon undergo an extraordinary transformation, beginning in Summer 2027.
When walking the space now, you will find it dominated by gray concrete and stairs. The stairs limit accessibility and concrete pathways encourage people to keep walking rather than to linger.
Imagine that same location filled with green, Michigan native plants from the Beal Botanical Garden flourishing among the meandering pathways and surrounding study spaces with power outlets and Wi-Fi. Art installations grace the space, events and outdoor classes are held on the Forest Akers Trust Plaza Center Stage, while the north entrance of the Library has two ADA-compliant ramps to make its invaluable resources accessible for all. It is a place for Spartans to linger, learn and connect.
Genevieve Lucas is one Spartan student who is looking forward to the realization of this vision. She is a junior studying political theory and constitutional democracy in James Madison College, as well as vice president of academic affairs-elect of the Associated Students of MSU, and she’s always loved libraries. “My major is basically all reading,” Genevieve says.
The project is rooted in three priorities: green space, community and accessibility. With these as its focus, the North Plaza will improve the student experience and truly represent everything the university has to offer.
“The North Plaza renovation project will bring a much needed, permanent accessible entry to the Main Library’s front entrance,” says Heidi Schroeder, MSU Libraries accessibility coordinator and liaison to MSU's Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities. “Having an accessible and welcoming front entrance will help ensure all students and visitors feel like they belong at the MSU Libraries.”
Given its proximity to Beal Garden, the MSU Museum and the College of Music, the plaza will become an interdisciplinary space for nearby colleges and units to use for outdoor classes, small-scale performances and other student activities.
As new memories are made within the North Plaza, one particular memory will always be treasured: the fountains, which were a gift from the classes of 1968, 1981 and 1983. Since they have reached the end of their lifecycle, they won’t be included in the new project design, but they will be commemorated and recognized by the university.
From celebrating the legacy of yesteryear, to preparing for the innovations of tomorrow, MSU Libraries is proud to begin development of this new, welcoming North Plaza to serve all Spartans with a sense of belonging immersed in the beauty of campus.
Genevieve believes the project is a great investment for all Spartans. “They are turning a non-functional space into a functional one, which makes us a more efficient student body and university,” she says. “It’s also an investment into students; to give them a comfortable gathering place to further their education and further their connections with other humans, which I think is really important.”
Thanks to a recent gift of $2 million from the Forest Akers Trust, funding for the North Plaza project is gaining momentum, and all together approximately $2.2 million has been raised toward the $7 million fundraising goal. Many naming opportunities within the project are still available, including a $5 million opportunity to name the entire plaza.
“We are deeply grateful to the Forest Akers Trust for their generous support in helping MSU Libraries make the reimagined North Plaza a reality,” says Dean of Libraries Neil Romanosky. “This project will transform a previously underutilized space into an accessible hub of collaboration and creativity, reflecting the Libraries’ central role in academic life at MSU and providing opportunities for connection and engagement at the heart of campus for years to come.”
The North Plaza project is creating a space for the community, supported by the community. Every gift toward its creation makes a big impact.
All Spartans are invited to make their mark on campus history and be part of creating a better future with this gateway to community connection. When the North Plaza project is complete, more Spartans will find their way through the Main Library north entrance, and pause to make a friend, enjoy an event, and stay for a while, here at the front porch of campus.
LEARN MORE about supporting the Libraries North Plaza project by contacting Caitlyn Perry Dial, MSU Libraries director of development, at dialcait@msu.edu or 517-432-0032.