Library Buildings around the World

Phase Two of Birmingham City University’s City Centre Campus extends its estate including BIAD and Millennium Point as a
coherent development around the City Park. The building is designed to form a ‘front door’ for the university and a landmark at the
eastern end of the park, designed to align with the Curzon District of Birmingham’s ‘Big City Plan’.
The building acts as a student hub for the campus to provide facilities including library, catering, student services and Student’s
Union incorporating the Grade II listed Eagle and Ball public house. The building also provides accommodation for the faculty of
Education, Law and Social Sciences, Birmingham City Business School and the University Directorate.
The building has two wings of accommodation following Cardigan and Curzon Streets, linked by an atrium. In compliance with the
masterplan, the building has five occupied storeys in Cardigan Street and six in Curzon Street at the end of the park. A two storey
element of larger footprint contains the student hub around a secondary atrium engaging the public house. External space to the east
is accessible from within the building to extend use and enjoyment of the canal environment.
Low energy targets are to be met by a high performance external envelope and by engaging the thermal mass of the structure. Mixed
mode ventilation with opening windows will ensure excellent internal conditions with user control. A biomass boiler and adiabatic
cooling are employed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating and Energy Performance Rating of A. (Associated)
Library, University of Birmingham – UK 2015
Client: University of Birmingham, Project Value: £37m, EPC: A, BREEAM: Excellent, Feasibility Study: 2009, Construction: 2013-
2015
Associated Architects’ 2009 feasibility study concluded that a new building rather than refurbishment would best meet this Russell
Group University’s needs. The demolition of the deficient 1950s library will create a ‘green heart’ to the campus, improving both site
circulation and the setting of the historic buildings. The new Library has a colonnaded front to this open space at the natural centre
of the University.
The plan is bisected by a central street running north-south. 16,000sq.m of floor space is arranged over six levels with a series of
lightwells running through the building. A café and new exhibition/events space to showcase research at the University are located
on the Ground floor. Energy use will be reduced by around 50% helping the University achieve its 20% CO2 reduction by 2020.
The new building has a contextual modern aesthetic, a contemporary but respectful neighbour to the listed Aston Webb buildings. A
high level of glazing maximises views in and out, achieving optimum day-lighting to quiet perimeter study areas. Windows are set
within a regular framework of stone with brick infill. Glass louvres provide solar shading and add a layer of detail to the elevations.
Other materials are aluminium and zinc cladding. The importance of the corner beside the University Centre is emphasised by
angled stone columns with brick linings orientated to the landmark University clock tower. (Associated)
Community Hub
Community Hub - Public Library, Telford – UK 2014
Client: Telford & Wrekin Council, Project Value: TBC, EPC: B
The masterplan for the Southwater quarter of Telford seeks to provide the new town with a vibrant civic heart and a framework for
future development that will transform the quarter and the wider town centre.
The Community Hub is a major component of the Southwater masterplan and is located at a key nodal point between the town
centre and Town Park. The Hub will accommodate a new public library, the Council’s First Point and customer contact centre,
tourist information and a range of voluntary organisations. It also provides commercial space for bars, restaurants and a café.
Located at the end of the new Southwater Square, the Hub will be a design quality benchmark for future Telford town centre
developments.
The Hub is designed around a central stepped atrium which will focus views up through the building to Town Park beyond, as well
as allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the plan. As a result, the design benefits from a series of dramatic single, double and
triple height spaces that will provide interest and promote views between floors and functions, reflecting the Council’s desire for an
open and welcoming environment.
A triage zone at Ground floor will provide an introduction to all services within the building, whilst escalators will bring visitors up
through the atrium to the First floor library or out to the park beyond. The levels above will accommodate First Point facilities
including waiting areas, booths, meeting rooms and a telephone contact centre. (Associated)
The Performance Hub, University of Wolverhampton – UK 2011
Client: University of Wolverhampton, Project Value: £12.4m
The University of Wolverhampton’s School of Sports, Performing Arts and Leisure operated from two campus locations in
Wolverhampton and Walsall. Associated Architects was appointed to develop a new ‘Performance Hub’ building at the heart of the
Walsall Campus to unite the School in one location.
Integrating the separate and distinct needs of the three Schools within one building needed careful consideration as the combined
brief included a variety of noise intensive and quiet spaces. It was the resolution of these conflicting adjacencies that drove the
internal and external organisation of the completed building.
A four storey linear block houses the majority of the teaching accommodation including a Learning and Resources Centre at the
lowest two levels, and specialist dance, drama and music spaces on the upper floors. The main ‘black box’ theatre space and support
spaces including dressing rooms, rehearsal spaces and set workshop areas are contained within a three storey performance block
separated from the main accommodation block by a full height glazed atrium.
The external expression of the building reflects the internal organisation. The performance block, which houses the ‘black box’
theatre, is robustly expressed with green copper cladding with abstract punched window openings with coloured linings, set on a
base of black metal panels containing get-in doors. The main teaching block is clad in a contrasting patinated copper cladding and
has a dramatic sloping wall and roof profile and super graphic signage to form a new marker of the campus from The Broadway.
(Associated)
Muirhead Tower, University of Birmingham – UK 2009
Client: University of Birmingham, Project Value: £25m
Awards:
RICS 2010
Muirhead Tower was designed by Sir Philip Dowson of Arup Associates and was completed in 1969 as the Arts and Commerce
Building. The iconic two tower building with its expressed concrete structure and podium had become beset with technical problems,
resulting in it being shrouded in scaffolding for over 20 years.
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