An £11m, four-storey extension of Lancaster University Library, designed by Scott Brownrigg, has started on site. The scheme will expand the amount of study space in the Library by 2,562 square metres.

The Scott Brownrigg-designed expansion reflects the University’s growing campus population. Sitting at the heart of the campus, the Library provides space and facilities to support the learning, teaching and research of students and staff of the University.

The extension to the south-west elevation of the Library will connect through to the existing library areas through open-plan study spaces, and specialised collaboration rooms. Uniting both old and new library will be group study and meeting rooms fully enabled with AV. Glazed frontages divide the space, whilst simultaneously maintaining visual connections across the different areas.

An independently accessed, lower-ground floor will provide for teaching and use by student societies, opening up to a new area of amenity landscaping on Library Avenue.

The scheme reflects the client’s initial brief of the library as a ‘window to the world’. A popular concept from the very beginning, the glazing arrangement allows natural light into the building, reduces the use of artificial lighting and presents an open, active frontage. The ‘window to the world’ and its accompanying ‘collegiate style’ framed cladding grid achieves an enhanced identity for the Library within a busy university campus.

“Working with staff and students in a variety of workshops, the design team have listened to ideas, understood people’s needs and carefully planned design features to make sure that the building is not only fit for purpose today but future-proofed to deliver a sustainable building in the long-term.”

“This scheme epitomises the value we place on stakeholder engagement in educational design. Lancaster University have fully-engaged with our concept and design from the beginning.”

Work commenced on site towards the end of 2019, and it is set to complete December 2020.