A master class in library design: Space planning visit to Leicester
15 April, 2011
66 SCONUL members took part in the visit to Leicester University's David Wilson Library yesterday. This was the winning Library from last year's Library Design Awards and is a stylish and highly functional building with a real "wow" factor. For those who were not able to join the visit, images of the building can be found here
The fact that Leicester's library is a redevelopment is significant. As Sheila Cannell, Chair of the SCONUL Working Group on Space pointed out, there is a growing trend for redeveloping rather than replacing existing buildings. This can present even greater challenges than new builds, because of the need to maintain an excellent service while simultaneously handling a major project. Leicester managed this process while maintaining strong NSS scores.
She also identified a number of trends in university libraries which are good news for SCONUL members and their institutions. The university library is becoming a destination on campus again - the place to be for students, who show an appreciation of traditional study spaces as well as social spaces. As a result, there have been significant increases in the use of university libraries across the UK. Really successful libraries, she pointed out, are those which have a very good fit to their university mission.
For those who would like more details of the design process for the David Wilson Library, presentations from Christine Fyfe, University Librarian, and Warren Jukes of Associated Architects, can be found here. Christine highlighted some of the factors which made the project such a success, including using a highly iterative approach to consultation over the development of the design and the development of a set of core design principles including:
- maximising natural light
- a welcoming and warm ambience with the gravitas of the library
- vistas and visual interest - and intimacy (nooks and crannies)
- replicating the aesthetics and proportions of the existing building to create a seamless space
- a place that is a pleasure to be in for long periods of time
- clarity and coherence of layout leading to ease of use
- delivering the most sustainable building possible within the budget
- zoning to accommodate a range of behaviours - from silent to social spaces
- design to encourage positive behaviour.
Other critical factors were
- architects shadowing library staff so they developed a deep understanding of how the building functioned
- allowing proper time to develop the brief
- giving the management of acoustics significant priority
- use of raised flooring with services running underneath
- a retail-style "street" running through the centre of the building
- consistent flooring used throughout to ensure visual coherence
- bespoke furniture to ensure design coherence and best use of space.
- Looking at life cycle costs rather than just up-front costs.
The group also heard a presentation from Janet Peters, University Librarian and Ruth Thornton, Site Librarian, at Cardiff University, on their Trevithick Library which won the SCONUL Library Design Award for smaller libraries. Janet and Ruth's presentation can be found here
Refurbishment of the Trevithick library was part of a process of refurbishment across the library estate introducing zoning and a fresh use of colour, and was a test bed for new ideas in library design. Project success was helped by
- good communications both with staff and beyond, helped by including representatives from the schools on the project steering group
- keeping everyone up to date during the refurbishment process
- visual clues to drive behaviour in quiet zones
- strong focus on classic design and good quality of the furniture supported by external sponsorship.
Many thanks to the Working Group on Space Planning for organising a very valuable event and to Leicester for the kind hospitality.