The University staged an architectural competition for the design of an addition to and renovation of the library. Our competition winning design placed the new wing at the south face of the existing library. It completes the central campus, forms a quadrangle with the historic Grey Towers Castle, residential houses and academic buildings, and defines a series of outdoor spaces to the east and west.
The expanded library accommodates 150,000 volumes, a multimedia collection, the college archive, and a curriculum library for the education program; study seating for 300 students in reading rooms, group study rooms and individual carrels, multimedia classrooms and a trustees room.
The curved limestone south face of the library forms a memorable campus landmark, a distinctive presence at the heart of the campus. The wall defines the north edge of the central quadrangle, a soccer field, and the Campus Green. The library faces south across the Green to the historic Grey Towers Castle, and reaches out to dormitories and academic buildings directly to the east and west. The curve of the building engages and resolves the two geometries of the campus grids. The main entrance to the library is directly opposite the dining hall. The addition frames an outdoor gathering place near the front door.
The design of the library enhances the reader experience by providing many different spaces and places for reading and study, with access to controlled daylight and campus views. The renovated existing building is primarily used for stack space and small meeting and study rooms. The new addition provides spacious entrances, large reading areas, and trustees room.
The plan of each floor is organized into a simple 't' shaped circulation system with a central core at the crossing, where a new open public stair connects all three levels.
A two-story high reading room on the second floor extends the full width of the building and looks out over the Campus Green to the Castle. The splayed steel column capitals distribute evenly the support of the roof and contribute to the room its distinctive character. Daylight enters through monumental wood windows with adjustable sun screens and shutters, and a band of high clerestory windows bring light in from the north. Built in window seats, lounge and table seating, provide a range of reader accommodations. The reading room is a place of reflection and study and symbolizes the recent transformation of the school from college to university status. At night the room is a lantern and a beacon at the heart of the campus.
The ground floor reference room extends the full width of the building as well. It includes the reference collection, exhibit space, circulation desk, and computer workstations with access to the online catalogue. Window seats along the south wall provide intimate study space focusing on the Campus Green.
The periodical lounge is a two-story high glass walled space facing north to a contemplative garden and west to a grove of beech trees. Beech paneling and shelving, lounge seating and low tables provide an intimate study area.
The circulating collection is housed on three floors in reconfigured accessible stacks in the older portion of the building, adjacent to study carrels, group study rooms, faculty carrels, and a small cafe. Multimedia collections, university archive, compact shelving and multimedia classrooms are on the lover level, with a separate entrance providing 24/7 access.
Area:
52,200 gsf total
26,300 gsf renovation
25,900 gsf new
