UA-R-GC-1914-01-01-1978-09-12_Page-055

5 . 4- Refurbishing the Old Library: By the end of February, 1980, with the opening of the New Library, AUC will get a large windfall dividend -- the Old Library. Planning is just startin? to examine possible AUC needs and uses in regard to this space. The total floor area avafl­able will be 2,400 sq. meters. On the assumption that we divide this space into rooms of 16 sq. meters, the six floors would yield 120 new rooms plus necessary corridors and maintenance area. The estimated cost to subdivide it this way would be LE.255,000 + 20% depending on particular requests for construction and furniture. An additional LE.70,000 will be needed for duct work and to con­vert the existing air conditioning system (which only cools now) into cooling and heating the new layout. Finally, it will take a full year to convert the whole building. 5- Wings for the New Theatre: The New Theatre is currently operating without any wings, a very undesirable situation. Unfortunately, adding a West Wing is impossible since the theatre is adjacent to the New Library. However, building an East Wing (6 x 11 meters) is entirely feasible and would be very helpful. It would cost roughly LE.IO,OOO. NOTE: Ewart Hall, Oriental Hall and the New Theatre all would profit enormously from the installation of heating/cooling systems. Not only would outside noise, often a severe distraction here in Cairo, be cut but these halls would be immensely more useful and comfortable. However, given the current tight budgetary situation and the substantial costs involved in these im­provements, we do not contemplate being able to look forward to doing this in the near future. 6- Desert Development Center: In addfrion to the above, we contemplate construction of a desert developm~nt center in South Tahrir Province (about 2 hours from Cairo by car) on the 500 feddans that will be leased to AUC for the next 30 years to start up the Desert Development Project that is being directed by Dr. Adli Bishay. The center, containing 594 sq. meters of space, is designed by the well-known Egyptian architect, Engineer Adly Naguib, and is based upon ancient Egyptian and Islamic design to keep the building naturally cool. It will also incor­porate local material and use workers from nearby Wadi Natrun to keep costs low (LE.60 per sq. meter) and demonstrate the application of existing building technology from the desert environment to modern uses. It will have a completely functional and modern interior. The Center, to be built by the architect for LE.35,000 according to AUC specifi­cations, is contemplated to be finished by December, 1979 assuming the land lease and building contract are finalized in the near future. The cost of the center is being covered through a restricted grant from the Egyptian Govern­ment (Ministry of Development and New Communities)