In the digital age, academic libraries are increasingly spending more money on online resources and less on print materials (Wolff-Eisenberg, 2017). The decrease in print resources in libraries has led to available space for libraries to repurpose. As this trend continues, and more and more students bring their own individual electronic devices such as laptops and cell phones to campus, academic libraries are renovating their spaces to meet the needs of these students. Many recent academic library renovations have focused on three key areas: an increase in electrical outlets, the construction of Makerspaces, and the addition of coffee shops and cafes (Aldrich, 2008; Cha & Kim, 2015; Cook, 2018; Curry, 2017; Gayton, 2008; Khoo, Rozaklis, Hall, & Kusunoki, 2016; Pryor, 2014; Thompson, 2012).This study seeks to understand the experiences of library leaders who lead these renovations. For the purposes of this study the term renovation is defined as the updating or redesigning of an outdated building to meet student needs. The specific research is guided by the following overarching question and three sub-questions: What are the experiences of academic library leaders before, during, and after a renovation project? (a) How do academic library leaders prepare to lead a renovation? (b) How do academic library leaders assess the need for a renovation? (c) How do academic library leaders assess the success of a library renovation? In this study participants were selected who led the renovation of a large, public, research university library in the United States. Six participants were interviewed three times each for a total of 18 interviews. The findings show that library leaders are largely unprepared to lead renovation projects in terms of formal education and training but finds there are a few suggestions of trainings for leaders to consider to become better prepared. This study provides implications for library leaders that can also be useful for a broad range of higher education administrators in terms of funding, staffing practices, professional development, and organizational understanding. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]