The library at Concordia Theological Seminary was halved in size more than 30 years ago, but soon it will quadruple.

The school, at 6600 N. Clinton St., is soliciting donations to pay for its $10 million expansion to the Walther Library, a project that will involve filling in part of the adjacent lake.

The expansion has been on the minds of school officials since the seminary moved to Fort Wayne from Springfield, Ill., in 1976.

“This is a project that has been dreamed about for a generation,” said Robert Roethemeyer, director of library and information services.

In Springfield, the seminary’s library collection was housed in a 30,000-square-foot facility, and the move to Fort Wayne crammed everything into 15,000 square feet, Roethemeyer said. The expansion will increase the square footage to 60,000, he said.

A concrete seawall will be installed and brush against the edge of the library so students in a studying and reading space will have a lake-level view of the area, Roethemeyer said.

The lake might be enlarged at another area to maintain stormwater retention.

The project also includes an upgrade to technology and work spaces.

The expansion is being financed entirely through private donations, paying for the $8 million construction and $2 million equipment and furnishings.

Concordia officials already held a silent campaign and launched a public solicitation in September and have raised $5.5 million so far, Roethemeyer said.

There’s a little concern considering the state of the economy, he said.

“Across the landscape for higher education, it’s not been the easiest year for fundraising because of the change in economic climate,” Roethemeyer said.

Concordia officials hope to have a ceremonial groundbreaking in mid-April and another in mid-May around the time of commencement, Roethemeyer said.

The lake will then be drained, and construction will officially begin in August and continue for 16 to 18 months, he said.

ksoderlund@jg.net