The last addition to Ellis, the south addition (in green), was erected in 1985. Unlike the previous additions which all equaled or surpassed the number of the floors in the original building, the south addition only has a ground and first floor. The ground floor is made up of the West Entrance, the Richard Wallace Atrium, the grand staircase which leads to the first floor, and the Book Mark Cafe. The rest of the floor is used by Technical Services for receiving, cataloging, marking, and repairing materials. The Nutter Information Commons, flanked on the east and west by library offices, takes up the whole of the 1st floor.
The south addition changed the south facade of the library, blocking from view most of the other additions. It also necessitated the removal of Conley Ave between 9th street and Hitt Street.