Situated at the heart of the campus and flanked by Grade 11 listed buildings, including the Stirling Engineering Building, the new Library for 22,000 students is stylish and elegant. Reuse of the existing library building with a new extension creates a confident set of spaces including a 500-person lecture theatre, with own public entrance. The open circulation atrium is key to the design. It lies at the heart of the Library areas, making it easy to understand the general arrangement of facilities and enables users on different levels to have been aware of one another. Careful thought has been given to access issues.

This is a sensitively handled refurbishment and new surfaces run seamlessly alongside the stripped original concrete frame. Thoughtful detailing, the lighting, limited palette of materials, and controlled signage enhance the ordered and legible arrangement of these fine facilities. Key environmental aspects were high insulation levels, maximizing use of natural daylight and a mixed mode system with natural ventilation through a stack effect.