Beatley Library-Lefavour Hall, 1961-Current
Files
Citation
“Beatley Library-Lefavour Hall, 1961-Current,” Buildings@Simmons, accessed March 15, 2026, https://beatleyweb.simmons.edu/buildings/items/show/127.
Geolocation
Title
Beatley Library-Lefavour Hall, 1961-Current
Subject
Beatley Library (Boston, Mass.)
Lefavour Hall (Boston, Mass.)
Lefavour Hall (Boston, Mass.)
Description
Beatley Library and Lefavour Hall (library extension) opened on October 4, 1961, after six years of planning. The Beatley Library building was planned by the School of Library Science Director, Kenneth Shaffer (1914-2006), who served at Simmons from 1946 to 1974, and was named after the College’s second president, Bancroft Beatley (1933-1955).
Beatley Library and Lefavour Hall were completed for $1.8 million, with a book capacity of approximately 267,990 volumes. Beatley Library, a two-story structure on the corner of Fenway and Avenue Louis Pasteur, contained audio-visual facilities (800 films were shown to classes in 1960 alone), a small auditorium, and viewing rooms. Lefavour Hall, a five-story building on Avenue Louis Pasteur, contained the rest of the Library and the Schools of Library Science (third and fourth floors) and Publication (fifth floor).
In January 2003, the College approved Master Plan II, a continuation of major renovations across campus. Projects included renovations to the Beatley Library, the Residence Campus, and classrooms, as well as addressing deferred maintenance issues.
Construction of the Beatley Library began soon after the destruction of the original building in July 2004. While Lefavour Hall housed the majority of the Library, many of the amenities and collections were transferred to the new building upon its completion in 2006. Additional study rooms, computer stations, quiet study spaces, the relocation of the circulation and reference desks, and a new entrance to the Library were all part of the renovations.
During the One Simmons project, Simmons renovated Lefavour Hall with a new health science center and modernized Beatley Library. In a partnership with Elkus Manfredi Architects, the firm's architects and designers worked with library staff to redesign Beatley Library.
Beatley Library and Lefavour Hall were completed for $1.8 million, with a book capacity of approximately 267,990 volumes. Beatley Library, a two-story structure on the corner of Fenway and Avenue Louis Pasteur, contained audio-visual facilities (800 films were shown to classes in 1960 alone), a small auditorium, and viewing rooms. Lefavour Hall, a five-story building on Avenue Louis Pasteur, contained the rest of the Library and the Schools of Library Science (third and fourth floors) and Publication (fifth floor).
In January 2003, the College approved Master Plan II, a continuation of major renovations across campus. Projects included renovations to the Beatley Library, the Residence Campus, and classrooms, as well as addressing deferred maintenance issues.
Construction of the Beatley Library began soon after the destruction of the original building in July 2004. While Lefavour Hall housed the majority of the Library, many of the amenities and collections were transferred to the new building upon its completion in 2006. Additional study rooms, computer stations, quiet study spaces, the relocation of the circulation and reference desks, and a new entrance to the Library were all part of the renovations.
During the One Simmons project, Simmons renovated Lefavour Hall with a new health science center and modernized Beatley Library. In a partnership with Elkus Manfredi Architects, the firm's architects and designers worked with library staff to redesign Beatley Library.
Date
1961-Current
Identifier
APC001_05651