The construction is almost over, and the finishing touches are in progress.

Soon — on Monday, March 25 — the Anderson Academic Commons will open its doors to a community that has watched for two years as building crews labored to transform the former Penrose Library into a 21st century hub for technology-infused teaching and learning.

Grand opening ceremonies are set for 11 a.m. March 25 in the building’s main lobby. The festivities will include remarks from Chancellor Robert Coombe and library Dean Nancy Allen.

Inside the building, students can brush up on their geography with a special exhibit — “Maps: From Local to Global” — devoted to storytelling cartography. The exhibit covers all the compass points and runs through August 2013.

Opening day also will provide the first chance to sample the cuisine at the Front Porch Café, made possible by a gift from alumnus Doug Scrivner (JD ’77). Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the café will give visitors some much-needed space to refuel and socialize.

In response to student requests for healthy food options, the 75-seat café will offer ZeBi, a line of locally produced meal and snack options. Students can also soak up the sun while dining on the café’s patio, an amenity drawing upon Scrivner’s happy memories of time spent on his family’s front porch in Wisconsin.

The festivities continue at 8 p.m. March 28 with Bond, James Bond. That’s when the DU Programs Board brings its Thursday night movie to the library’s event space. The screening of “Skyfall” will update 007 fans on the superspy’s latest escapades.

On Friday, March 29, the focus turns lethal with a showing of “Clue” from 6–8 p.m. in the library’s event space. That will set thestage for “Murder in the Stacks,” a “Clue”-inspired scavenger hunt. The film screening is open to everyone, but “Murder in the Stacks,” which runs from 8–10 p.m. in the event space, is limited to DU students only.

Tours of the Anderson Commons will be offered throughout the week.  Space on the tours is limited, so sign up early.

MONDAY, March 25

Guided tours—both general and customized for undergraduate students, graduate students, donors, volunteers and staff—will run from noon to 1 p.m.

A tour of the special collections will be offered from 1–2 p.m., while a preview of the artist books collection will be from 2-3 p.m. in the Gottesfeld Room on the building’s upper level.

TUESDAY

A tour highlighting the building’s technology will run from 10-11 a.m, and a sustainability tour is slated for noon to 1 p.m.  Tours for undergraduate and graduate students are scheduled for 4–5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

A tour geared toward faculty members will be from 9-10 a.m., with a general tour running from 10–11 a.m. The building’s technology will be showcased in a tour scheduled from 2-3 p.m.

THURSDAY

A tour customized for staff members will be from 1–2 p.m., while an introduction to the library’s exhibits will be offered from 3–4 p.m.

FRIDAY

A tour for faculty members will be offered from noon to 1 p.m.