The Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture will be closed for the next 8 1/2 months for renovations.

Sources at the center say it will shut its doors from Feb. 1, 2017, to Oct. 15, 2017, for a major improvement project to replace heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems throughout the building. The renovations will greatly enhance the building’s archival storage conditions.

“We are very excited about these renovations and apologize for any inconvenience,” offered a statement from the center.

During the renovations, there will be no access to the center’s archival collections, no new acquisitions of archival materials, and no on-site tours or programs.

But the Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) will continue its public programming throughout the year. Please visit the RSJI’s website for more information.

The Avery Research Center’s faculty and staff will be temporarily relocated to the College of Charleston’s Addlestone Library and can be contacted via their College of Charleston emails.

For inquiries during the renovations, email at averyadmin@cofc.edu or call 853-953-7609. For questions about archival materials, contact Barrye Brown at brownbo@cofc.edu.