 In May 1960 , the then Oregon State College was advanced $ 19 @,@ 000 by the federal government to plan for a new $ 2 @,@ 170 @,@ 000 building . The new building was designed by architects Hamlin & Martin , and the cost rose to $ 2 @.@ 4 million by the time the school accepted bids on the project in April 1962 . Ground was broken on the project on May 1 , 1962 , with Shields Construction Company as the general contractor for the project . The new building would double the size of Oregon State 's library . 
