Library Buildings around the World

Aedas Group, Birmingham -Hong Kong – UK
http://www.aedas.com
Aedas was established in 2002 with the partnership of LPT Architects in Hong Kong and Abbey Holford Rowe in the UK to become
Aedas LPT and Aedas AHR respectively. Following a merger with TCN Architects of Birmingham in 2003, the name Aedas was
adopted for all areas of the practice with the LPT and AHR being dropped from the Hong Kong and UK practice names later in
2003. In 2006 Aedas partnered with Davis Brody Bond, an award-winning American architectural firm with headquarters in New
York. In 2008, Aedas merged with MEIS Architects of Los Angeles, a world-class design pratice. In 2009 Aedas set up offices in
Karachi with Aedas Ali Naqvi and in Turin through a partnership with Marco Visconti, chief designer of a number of Fiat and
Ferrari buildings in Italy. (Aedas)
Libraries:
Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (DACA), Darwen – UK 2010
Darwen Academy represents an opportunity to provide a benchmark environment in the centre of Darwen, bringing together
teaching and learning in new and interesting ways. An investment of £36m has made it possible to provide accommodations for 1,200
students between 11-16 years old and a further 400 post-16 places, offering both traditional and more vocational curriculum tailored
to the needs of the pupils. Facilities include lecture theatres, open resource spaces, ICT areas and a flagship Learning Resource
Centre that will enable pupils to focus on the development of their entrepreneurial skills. The facilities are also available to the local
community. The design of the academy successfully responds to the unique nature of the site and offers a large slope in two
directions as it is situated on the side of a hill. The number of storeys in the building vary in order to work with the levels and the
landscape which is seamlessly integrated within the project. (Aedas)
The Darwen Aldridge Community Academy [DACA] is all about regeneration in its vision, location, design and use. Located in the
heart of Darwen at the head of the main high street Darwen Aldridge Community Academy stands as a beacon of opportunity and
hope, demonstrating what is possible when a vision for regeneration by a local authority is matched by a vision for education in an
academy sponsor. Conceived as a simple triangular volume the buildingworks with the steeply sloping 21m gradient of the site to
open up access to the town on five levels providing stunning views and forming a central visual and physical connection with the
town centre through innovative use of levels, materials and site topography. The building boasts one of the largest sedum roofs in the
UK and roof fenestration aspects have been integrated as an innovative design feature allowing light to pour through into the atrium
spaces.Opened in September 2010 the building has achieved its BREEAM ‘Very Good' target. Unique to DACA, and in support of
its specialism, is the provision of an ‘entrepreneurship bridge' containing business incubator units available to anyone in the local
community interested in starting their own business. This close contact between the business start-up community and the Academy
is central to the vision of regeneration and a valuable curriculum resource, as it allow students to learn from shared experience.
Brendan Loughran, Principal of DACA, said of the project: "The building is iconic and the strongest symbol of regeneration of
Darwen. The impact on improving students' attitude and motivation has been incredible. We have an environment which marries
the worlds of business and education." Rod Aldridge, Chairman of The Aldridge Foundation, added: "The joy and excitement about
school life in the building is tangible and it is an uplifting place to visit and feel part of." (http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com)
Hadley Learning Centre, Headley-Telford – UK 2006
The Hadley Learning Centre brings together a 1200 place Secondary school, a 420 place Primary school, a 150 place SPLD/PMLD
Special Needs school and Community facilities including sports and swimming facilities, theatre and a library. Conceived as a major
community regeneration project, this multi-purpose learning centre focuses on the educational needs of all ages and abilities, also
catering for PMLD and SPLD students. The award-winning Hadley Learning Centre provides a wide range of teaching, learning,
community and performance facilities. A key feature of the design is the integration of all spaces in one building. Arranged around a
central open space and connected by a communal street, the arrangement of spaces (Aedas)
Columbia University Northwest Corner Building, New York – USA 2010
see also: Rafael Moneo, Davis Brody Bond Aedas (New York)
Completed in December 2010, the innovative Northwest Corner Building houses 21 cutting-edge labs gathering together
researchers in biology, chemistry, physics and engineering, as well as a science library, lecture hall and cafe completing the
outlines of Columbia University's original Morningside Heights campus plan by McKim, Mead and White. Built as a bridge
above the existing Levien Gym in the Dodge Physical Fitness Center and supported by a 129-foot long, three-dimensional
truss, the 14-story facility accommodates seven double-height lab floors designed to mitigate vibration and allow for flexible
layouts as new scientific research priorities evolve. Elevated, enclosed bridges to adjacent science facilities in Pupin Hall and
Chandler Hall will encourage more interaction among faculty and students from the university's science and engineering
departments. Interior lobbies flow from the sidewalk level at 120th Street and Broadway to a publicly accessible, 1,400
square foot cafe above, and are connected visually and spatially to the campus-level lobby. This adds a bright new public
portal between the original, more cloistered campus design of the late 19th and early 20th century at a dark corner
previously marked by an iron gate and the masonry wall of the gym. The facility also includes a 164-seat lecture hall and a
two-story integrated science library. A new exterior stairway connects the sidewalk at 120th Street to Pupin Plaza,
permitting direct access to campus. A unitized glass and aluminum panel curtain wall on the west, Broadway-facing facade,
mirrors the building's structural steel system. The integrated design process and materials used for the building aim to
achieve a LEED Silver rating, and design elements that meet Labs21 criteria, a voluntary partnership program dedicated to
improving the environmental performance of U.S. laboratories. In association w/ Rafael Moneo Valles Arquitecto, Design
Architect & Moneo Brock Studio, Design Project Architect.
A-EM, London – UK
http://www.a-em.com
now: Emrys Architects, London (UK)
http://www.emrysarchitects.com
Madoc Architecture, London (UK)
http://www.madoc-architecture.com
Libraries:
Central Library. South Kensington. West London. Imperial College, London – UK 2008
Like Chandler House at UCL and the Whitehead building at Goldsmiths, we have worked closely with the end users to provide a
very bespoke design solution to their brief. In this case it was for a 24/7 library, and an RIBA Award. (Emrys)
Sherfield Centre South Kensington. West London Imperial College, London – UK 2001
Blyth Arts Centre. South Kensington. West London Imperial College, London – UK 2000
4