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BUILDING |
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Sir Duncan Rice Library
University of Aberdeen Library |
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DESIGNER |
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DESCRIPTION |
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 The University of Aberdeen, established in 1495, is the fifth oldest English-language university in the world. In 2005, schmidt hammer lassen architects won the international competition to design the new university library which is to replace the existing Queen Mother Library. The new library will reinforce the reputation of the University as an important academic institution, as a place of research, learning and teaching. The 15,500 square metres of floor-space will host over a quarter of a million books, maps and manuscripts, as well as 1,200 reader spaces in a variety of environments, where cutting edge technologies are available. Additionally, Special Libraries and Archives offer historical collections in connection to a secure rare books reading room. The new library will be run by approximately 60 staff and serve a community of over 16,000 students.
 “University of Aberdeen New Library will be an exciting embodiment of the library of the future: open, multi-functional and accessible. It will be both a meeting place and a cultural centre for the University and the wider Aberdeen community; offering public spaces, exhibitions and events,” explains Morten Schmidt, Founding Partner at schmidt hammer lassen architects.
The library will be positioned on a base of Scottish stone, and it is designed to be welcoming. The ground floor with lounge and café areas will host regular exhibitions, seminars and poetry readings.
Architecturally, the heart of the library is a spiralling atrium connecting all eight storeys, and as a dynamic vortex, this space contrasts the clean cut exterior profile. Furthermore, the building is designed to meet the highest sustainable standards, minimising long term running costs and energy use. The library has been certified BREEAM Excellent. Consisting of an irregular pattern of insulated panels and high performance glazing, the façade not only allows plenty of daylight to penetrate into the building but also offers a great view over the city of Aberdeen. The façade will shimmer during the day and glow softly at night, creating a luminous landmark for Aberdeen. Aberdeen University New Library will be both a meeting place and a cultural centre for the University and the wider Aberdeen community.
A new public square is an integral part of the design, linking the University and the city and forming the west end of an east-west axis across the University campus. The Academic Square will generate a sense of cohesion between the University and the surrounding community. |
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ECO-SUSTAINABILITY |
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| General ecology |
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 The building is designed to minimise long term running costs and energy use.
“University of Aberdeen New Library will be certified BREEAM Excellent which proves that the building is designed to minimise long term running costs and energy use. For instance rainwater harvesting for use in the WC flushing and photo voltaic cells on the roof of the library will be incorporated, as will the integrated hybrid ventilation and a series of intelligent management systems to optimise the energy strategy. Moreover, the extensive glazing of the library provides high insulation standards and plenty of daylight combined with that from the central atrium,” Stephen D. Willacy, Partner at schmidt hammer lassen architects clarifies. He stresses that sustainability is integral to the holistic design process of schmidt hammer lassen architects. |
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LOCATION |
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| Continent |
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Europe |
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| Nation |
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 United Kingdom |
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 Scotland |
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| Council Area |
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City of Aberdeen |
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| Town |
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 Aberdeen |
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| Address |
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Bedford Road
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MAP |
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TYPOLOGY |
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ARCHITECTURE | Education buildings
Universities, colleges
Libraries, archives and documentation centres
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CHRONOLOGY |
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Project |
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2005
project winner of limited competiton
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Realisation |
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2009 - 2011 |
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AWARDS |
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| 2013 |
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| 2013 |
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| 2012 |
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| Aberdeen Civic Society Award |
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BIBILIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES |
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| "Update: University libraries", A10 new European architecture 44, march-april 2012, "On the Spot" p. 8 |
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| "Give identity" in schmidt hammer lassen architects (ed.), Give more, Aedes, Berlin 2012, pp. 44-51 |
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| Penny Lewis, "Light reading. Schmidt Hammer Lassen at Aberdeen University", Architecture Today 222, october 2011, pp. 80-89 |
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CLIENT |
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AMOUNT |
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DIMENSIONAL
DATA |
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| Surface |
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| Capacity |
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| Capacity |
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| Floors |
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STRUCTURES |
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LANDSCAPE DESIGN |
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| Schmidt Hammer Lassen architects |
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STAFF |
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| Interior design |
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| schmidt hammer lassen design |
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| Quantity surveyor |
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ANNOTATIONS |
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 Competion shortlist:
- Schmidt Hammer Lassen
- Page \ Park Architects
- MacCormac Jamieson Prichard
- Moshe Safdie with Allan Murray Architects
- O'Donnell + Tuomey Architects
- Bennetts Associates
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CREDITS |
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Images © schmidt hammer lassen architects
Texts edited by schmidt hammer lassen architects
Courtesy by schmidt hammer lassen architects
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