The reflection pond located in front of Clemson University’s R.M. Cooper Library underwent draining and cleaning on Dec. 20 to prepare for construction.

The installation of construction fencing was completed on Jan. 6, with fences now surrounding the reflection pond and parking spots near the Watt Family Innovation Center and Cooper Library.

“Demolition of the existing sidewalks and walls is going to occur while accessing the area from the interior of the pond,” Taylor Purvis, project manager of planning, design and construction at Clemson, told The Tiger via email.

To aid the flow of pedestrians and to construct a more symmetrical pond, the southwest corner area of the pond will be filled in.

Once construction is finished, features will include an “outdoor study” and “learning area” underneath Cooper Library bridge, according to an article by Clemson News.

The project aims to amplify Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility surrounding the pond in addition to improving lighting along the pond’s pathway. Security cameras and new acorn lights will be put in place on the pond’s western side “to brighten up the new and improved sidewalk,” Purvis told The Tiger.

“This project will help students, faculty, and visitors easily navigate the area, providing ramps and pathways that meet accessibility standards. Additional lighting will enhance safety and visibility during evening hours,” an article by Greenville News notes.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, which became a law in 1990, aims to cease mistreatment of individuals with disabilities in public areas such as school, work, transportation and more.

Parking and sidewalks “adjacent to the R.M. Cooper Library” will be affected until construction is completed in May 2025. Once the “bulk of the sitework” is finished and weather permitting, the pond will be refilled in May, according to Purvis. Until then, substitute parking systems and walkways will be arranged, according to Greenville News.