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WesternU Acquires Building for Library Expansion

by Rodney Tanaka

December 17, 1998

Read 2 mins

Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) has acquired a four-story

building at the northwest corner of Gibbs and Third streets in downtown

Pomona. The 40,000-square foot structure is slated for remodel as the

University’s new Health Professions Library and Learning Resource Center.

The 88-year-old building, originally known as both the Toll Building and

later as the PT&T Building, was presented to the health professions

university under a gift/purchase agreement with Jeved Management Company

owners Victor and Cathy Tessier.

The Tessiers had owned the former phone switching station since 1993. They

are long-time WesternU supporters, having leased the former Nash’s

Department Store building to WesternU in 1990. The Nash’s building was

subsequently purchased by the University in 1993, and was converted to the

Health Sciences Center – the site of WesternU’s current medical library

and learning resource center. Ed Tessier, one of three children of Victor

and Cathy Tessier, sits on the advisory committee of the University’s

Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions.

Remodeling of the building into the new health professions learning center

could begin as early as February, pending city approvals, said Stuart

Wiener, WesternU’s chief operating officer. The Pomona-based architectural

firm JKI Design and Development will design the new library, with input

from a 15-member library design advisory committee. The committee is

headed by Library Director Judy Kraemer, MLIS, and is comprised of student

and staff representatives from all of the University’s disciplines.

JKI’s Todd Clark said preliminary plans for the building call for the main

entrance to move from the building’s south side to the east side facing

Gibbs. These plans call for a large glass facade to be added by the

building’s east side, creating an attractive light-enhancing entrance,

Clark said.

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