Buildings visit 2005 - Coventry University and Open University

The SCONUL Buildings Visit to the Lanchester Library, Coventry University and the Open University Library and Learning Resources Centre
29 - 30 June 2005

• Programme for Day 1
• Programme for Day 2
• List of delegates (PDF)
• List of suggested hotels
• Travel directions

The Lanchester Library

The fourth incarnation of the Lanchester Library opened in September 2000 and has since won seven awards including the 2002 SCONUL Design Award. The Library building incorporates the Library Café, the University Bookshop, a Resources Shop and the University's Centre for Higher Education Development. When it was built the Library broke new ground environmentally with its use of natural ventilation and natural light to produce a highly energy efficient building within a deep plan footprint.

The judges of the SCONUL Award said "This stunning castle-like building successfully provides an important new focal point on campus for attracting and supporting both students and academic staff. Users enjoy an open, varied and well-planned interior; enhanced by natural light penetrating through the five glazed atria. The innovative natural ventilation system - a revolutionary concept for a deep-plan building of this size - has enabled considerable efficiencies to be made in the use of space and in energy costs. The library symbolises the University's commitment to enhancing the student experience"

The Open University Library and Learning Resources Centre

Officially opened in November 2004, the Library incorporates the best traditional facilities and services with the latest technologies and learning opportunities in an environment which supports the OU staff, local students and the Milton Keynes public. The OU experience centred on a partnering approach whereby the University contracted a consortium comprising the architects, main contractors, engineers and quantity surveyors to ensure that quality and deliverability were high on the agenda for the whole life of the project. The very successful partnering approach ensured that Library staff were fully involved in the project with the aim of obtaining a truly functional building. The final post-occupancy review took place in March 2005 so we will learn from that outcome.

Day one (29 June) will be a full day focussing on the Lanchester Library, Coventry University, and the sustainable environment theme. There will be a conference dinner in the Executive Dining suite, Coventry University.

Day two (30 June) will focus on the Library & Learning Resources Centre at The Open University and will explore the partnering approach. Delegates will travel by coach in the morning from Coventry to the Open University. The programme will end at teatime.

At each library there will be presentations from architects and library staff as well as detailed tours of the buildings. Planning and project management, and the student experience, will also be covered.

The cost of the event will be £200 (excluding overnight accommodation, which is to be arranged by delegates themselves. The organisers can recommend some local hotels). Places are limited to forty-five delegates.

This event follows the success of recent visits to Dublin City University and Trinity College Dublin last year, King's College London and the LSE (2003), the University of Abertay (2002), the University of Hertfordshire (2000) and the University of Westminster Harrow campus (1997).

• List of suggested hotels

For further information please contact:
Gail Downe, SCONUL Assistant Secretary, SCONUL, 102 Euston Street, London NW1 2HA
Tel: 020 7387 0317 Fax: 020 7383 3197 E-mail: gail.downe@sconul.ac.uk