Library Buildings around the World

Oman
COWI, Ruwi – Oman
http://www.cowi.com
Libraries:
University of Nizwa, Main Library, Nizwa – Oman in construction
Cultural capital
Nizwa is the third largest urban community in the Sultanate of Oman, located 140 km south-west of Muscat. Nizwa was once the
ancient capital of the country, the seat of Imam and the traditional centre of Islamic arts and learning. With establishment of the
new
University, the Government of Oman is striving to continue this ancient tradition by providing a learning environment that will be
conducive
to study and enriching in experience for all parties of education process.
Mission
The mission of the University is to promote positive thinking, and preserve the nation’s Islamic and cultural heritage and identity. Its
purpose is to broadly educate students and to equip them with the values, knowledge and life skills needed to enrich their lives, and
to
empower them to contribute meaningfully to the progress of the society. To achieve this mission, the University shall develop
dynamic,
integrative programs that would be able to provide high quality academic training and intensive intellectual development. COWI is
involved in development of the new Nizwa University, which
will provide learning environment for more than 20,000 students
COWI’s services: • Master Planning,• Architectural Concept, • Preliminary Design, • Detailed Design. Project Period: 2003-ongoing
Client: Higher Foundation Committee of the University of Nizwa
The doors of the new University opened to its inaugural class on October 16, 2004, welcoming around 1,200 students for for the first
academic year. Since the proper training facilities were not yet available, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said generously allowed the
use of a Royal Boarding School as an initial campus and this site is used for educational activities until the new campus is finally
created and launched.
New Facilities
The new campus is planned to be constructed on a 1,500,000 m² (1.5 km x 1.0 km) site east of Nizwa town and will ultimately house a
total of 20,000 students in six faculty colleges.
Master Planning and Design
Work on the new University began in 2003, when COWI was responsible for development of the Master Plan for the new facilities.
Having completed the Master Plan, COWI has since been appointed to undertake the conceptual and detailed design for a number of
buildings and facilities of the campus,
including:
• Main Administration Building
• Faculty of Engineering &
Architecture
• Faculty of Arts and Science
• Main library
• The Mosque
• Classroom Blocks
• Student Accommodation Blocks
• Entire Site Infrastructure
Progress
Design works are currently under way and construction of the new campus will begin during 2010-2011 academic year. Mosque
Library.(COWI)
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