Library Buildings around the World

most favourable method of construction. Handmade bricks, plain tiles, Western Red Cedar and aluminium curtain walling
completed the fabric of the building. Light and ventilation have been maximised throughout, but glare and solar gain on the south
façade are controlled with a series of retractable awnings and fixed timber louvres. The building and interior were consciously
designed to provide a clear and logical layout to the circulation routes. Even though the building was on three floors, all areas are
accessible by either a lift or one of two stair cases. The main entrance is approached from an open paved public area, and leads into
the main lending and reference library. This in turn is complimented by a small café, exhibition and gallery space. (Hampshire)
Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates
see :
H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture LLC : http://www.h3hc.com
Holzman Moss Architecture LLP : http://www.holzmanmoss.com
Pfeiffer Partners Architects Inc. : http://www.pfeifferpartners.com
Nicholas Hare Architects LLP, London – UK
http://www.nicholashare.co.uk
Libraries:
Blackburn Central High School – UK 2012
Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton BSF
The Blackburn Central High School with Crosshill is a newly-created entity involving the amalgamation of three existing schools:
Blakewater College, Beardwood School and Crosshill Special Needs School. The combined student population of the new school is
960, including 60 special needs places.
Nicholas Hare Architects designed the building which sits in a prominent location on a steep incline above the town and takes
advantage of the magnificent views towards the hills beyond. The school is arranged around a multi-purpose central 'heart' space
combining dining, assembly, library and social areas, while the teaching spaces run in a 'ribbon', wrapping around the building and
creating identifiable and discrete homebase areas where the students spend 80% of their time. It is intended that the School will
become an important facility for the various local communities, which have very significant levels of social deprivation. The selection
of a new, greenfield site with no relationship with any existing school provides an equal opportunity for all local people to embrace
this new community building. "Nicholas Hare Architects have designed an excellent building in which to educate young people. The
imaginative use of natural light and a simple but striking colour palate help to create an open and positive working environment in
which staff and students can thrive" Alan Chambers, Head - Blackburn Central High School. (Hare)
Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College, Birmingham – UK 2008
Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College in Birmingham has won this year’s Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award. (2009)
The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, congratulating all those involved, said: ‘This award is all about how creative
design and high-quality construction lead to better public services. Joseph Chamberlain College is an excellent example of this.
Students, teachers and all those working and living around the college can take great pride in this first-class building. I am sure it
will inspire all who use it and make a real difference to the community.’ The beautiful, protected and calm environment created by
Nicholas Hare Architects belies its tough inner-city surroundings. The college opened in September 2008 and now has 1,600 students.
It has inspired more young people, coming from a range of backgrounds, to study post-16. The college is heavily over-subscribed and
the number of girls opting to study has increased. AS level results for the first-year intake have seen an improvement over previous
years. The college also offers the local community a library, adult learning and sports facilities, and has already triggered
improvements to what was a very inhospitable area. The college exterior is imposing, with a continuous curved façade towards a
busy roundabout, and welcoming, with a tree-lined entrance leading from the road. A sequence of inner spaces, including a leafy
courtyard and semi-circular garden, leaves traffic and noise behind. Natural light predominates, with glazed walls to the courtyards,
double-height spaces and atrium light wells. Elly Tobin, the college’s principal, said: ‘Never in their wildest dreams would these
young people have expected such a wonderful building. It makes them feel proud and good about themselves. It gives them a sense of
their place in the community and a sense of responsibility. They have been given something special and they want to do well and give
something back.’ Richard Simmons, CABE chief executive, added: ‘Some say that, with tightened budgets, good design is a luxury
we can’t afford. Exactly the opposite is true. In straitened economic times, investing in high quality is the best use of public money.
That’s the lesson we should take from Joseph Chamberlain College.’ The Prime Minster’s Award recognises effective delivery and
value for money as well as high-quality design. The success of Joseph Chamberlain College is due to the highly collaborative
approach adopted by the college, the designers and the supply team led by BAM Construction. Together they have achieved a
flexible and sustainable building, with energy use minimised by passive means. The award is part of the British Construction
Industry Awards. It is sponsored jointly by CABE, the Office of Government Commerce and the Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills. ( http://www.betterpublicbuilding.org.uk )
Chafford Hundred Learning Campus, Thurrock - UK 2002
Thurrock Council
The pioneering brief for the campus included playgroup and nursery facilities as well as a primary and secondary school and a
branch library. The school dining space opens at 8:30am and is designed as an internet cafe, and facilities that can be shared by the
community are open during school hours. The campus layout was carefully developed to balance the needs of adult learners with
pupil security. In 2003 the campus received the Civic Trust Centre Vision Award for the project which contributed most to the
revitalization of a community.
Since then the Campus has been extended twice to increase the capacity of both the secondary and primary schools. Both extensions
have followed the site strategy set out in the original masterplan for the project. Additional work is now planned to extend the
primary school further and to design a sixth form centre.
"The building is brilliant - I can't fault it"
Alison Banks, Head Teacher, Chafford Hundred Campus (Hare)
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