Looking back at Whispers in Olin Library

How Whispers will look when renovations are complete in 2018.
How Whispers will look when renovations are complete in 2018.

Olin Library is undergoing a renovation that will make the campus hub even more accessible and enjoyable. Included in the renovation is the beloved Whispers Café. When it re-opens in spring 2018 along with the rest of the library, Whispers will include more seating and a view of new Newman Tower of Collections and Exploration that will run through the center of the building. The café has long been a central place for students, staff and faculty to meet, study or grab a coffee or baked good. Here, we look back at how a simple courtyard was transformed into a “hoppin‘” cybercafé.

The courtyard

Before Whispers, the space to the right of the library’s entrance was an open courtyard with a large tree, some benches and a kiosk on which students could post flyers for events and groups. Fifty thousand square feet were enclosed in order to build Whispers. As an homage to the tree that originally inhabited the courtyard, a handmade tree was built in the center of the café.
Before Whispers, the space to the right of the library’s entrance was an open courtyard. In it was a large tree, some benches and a kiosk on which students could post flyers. In order to build Whispers, 5,000 square feet were enclosed. As an homage to the tree that originally occupied the courtyard, a handmade tree was built in the center of the café.

Crossroads

For students, staff and faculty, the open-air courtyard was a nice break space at the crossroads of campus. In fact, Crossroads was almost the cafe’s name, until the chancellor's wife, Risa Zwerling Wrighton suggested the name Whispers — a reference to the old, quiet library space, which would contrast the new, busy cafe that featured group seating.
The open-air courtyard was a nice break space at the crossroads of campus. In fact, Crossroads was almost the cafés name, until the chancellor’s wife, Risa Zwerling Wrighton, suggested the name Whispers — a reference to the quiet library space, which would contrast with the new, busy café.

A day at the beach

Before Whispers and other renovations, Olin Library had an overhang, that was covered in small stones. It was known to students as "The Olin Beach." Stairs led up to the overhang where students would go to have lunch or lay in the sun. When Whispers was being built, students lamented that the construction was “taking away our beach.”
Before Whispers and other renovations, students could sit on the roof of Olin. The area was covered in small stones. It was known to students as “the beach.” Stairs led up to the overhang where students would have lunch or lie in the sun.

Hot spot

A look at the old Whispers, which featured a bakery, Kaldi's coffee, and a view of the library.
Whispers opened in May 2004 with bakery treats and Kaldi’s coffee. It was intended to be a cybercafé, a place where students could stop in for a cup of coffee and surf the Web. It quickly became the highest grossing café in St. Louis, boasting more than 2,800 visitors a day. In 2006, Student Life called Whispers one of the hot spots on campus, describing it as “the most hoppin’ place in the library.” The paper said that visitors can see almost the entire university community if they sit in Whispers for a day.