The Aberdeen University New Library, now know as the Sir Duncan Rice Library, houses over a quarter of a million books and manuscripts inside it’s shimmering cubic volume. Located on the west side of campus, the library creates an important connection with the city and will serve a community of 14,000 students. Schmidt Hammer Lassen one 1st place in a competition in 2005 to design the building, which was recently opened to students in September. The 9-story cubic volume has a strikingly organic interior with a large spiralling atrium that connects the floors together and funnels light inside from a skylight on the roof. Positioned on a base of Scottish stone, the welcoming space encourages students to study and welcomes the public for exhibitions, readings, and other events.
Schmidt Hammer Lassen designed the library to minimize energy use as a way of reducing overall operating costs. The building has achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating due to a variety of sustainability strategies. The building’s envelope is made up of high performance glazing and insulated panels that allow for daylighting, but work to reduce heat gain and glare. Energy efficient lighting and a displacement air system further reduce energy use. Rainwater is harvested from the roof and is recycled in the lavatories. Finally photovoltaic panels are located on the roof to supplement the building’s electricity requirements.
“The University of Aberdeen New Library functions as a meeting place and a cultural centre for the students of the University as well as the Aberdeen community. The façade of the building shimmers during the day and glows softly at night, creating a luminous landmark – a beacon – for the city of Aberdeen,” said Morten Schmidt, Founding Partner of schmidt hammer lassen architects, and he continued: “The increase in visitors shows that the new library has affected the students’ everyday behaviour. The students come to study in the new library and to be a part of the social community of the University.”
Images ©Schmidt Hammer Lassen
