schmidt hammer lassen architects: university of aberdeen new library

‘university of aberdeen new library’ by schmidt hammer lassen architects, aberdeen, UK image © schmidt hammer lassen architects all images courtesy of schmidt hammer lassen architects

officially opened by queen elizabeth II and the duke of edinburgh, the ‘university of aberdeen new library’ designed by danish practice schmidt hammer lassen architects is now complete in arberdeen, scotland. established in 1495, the campus is the world’s fifth oldest english language university and the collection includes 250,000 books and manuscripts. this 15,500 square meter facility accommodates 14,000 students with 1,200 reading spaces, archives, historical collections and a room for rare books.

a ground floor lounge and cafe will host exhibitions, seminars and poetry readings. above the common area, wavering contours are cut into each floor plate forming a central atrium which spirals through to the roof. eight stories of organic and diversely-shaped voids contrast the exterior’s crisp rectilinear lines. the patterning on the facade creates a ratio of 50% transparent and opaque panes to control solar gain and heat loss.

rectilinear exterior image © schmidt hammer lassen architects

image © schmidt hammer lassen architects

scottish wall base image © schmidt hammer lassen architects

approach to main entrance image © schmidt hammer lassen architects

facade has 50% transparent and opaque panels images © schmidt hammer lassen architects

lobby + cafe image © schmidt hammer lassen architects

view of lobby from 1st floor images © schmidt hammer lassen architects

view looking downward of spiraling atrium image © schmidt hammer lassen architects

upwar view of spiraling atrium image © schmidt hammer lassen architects

a different organically-shaped void within each floor plate creates the shifting atrium images © schmidt hammer lassen architects

view of levels with book stacks image © schmidt hammer lassen architects

image © schmidt hammer lassen architects

perimeter study space image © schmidt hammer lassen architects

upward view of spiraling atrium image © schmidt hammer lassen architects

transparent roof filters daylight into the central atrium image © schmidt hammer lassen architects

view from surrounding context image © schmidt hammer lassen architects

image © schmidt hammer lassen architects

facade at dusk image © schmidt hammer lassen architects

site plan 1. new library 2. secret garden 3. amphitheatre / library garden 4. public square 5. fraser noble building 6. meston building 7. central refectory, ‘hub’ 8. town house 9. new kings 10. chapel 11. kings college, sports ground 12. university office

floor plan / level 0 1. entrance 2. foyer 3. cafe 4. exhibition area 5. print shop 6. control point 7. lifts 8. stairs 9. toilets

floor plan / level 2 1. study space 2. seminar room 3. work room 4. group study space 5. office 6. atrium 7. lifts 8. stairs 9. toilets 10. information

floor plan / level 6 1. general library 2. quiet area 3. work room 4. group study space 5. office 6. atrium 7. lifts 8. stairs 9. toilets

section 1. library 2. public area 3. main entrance 4. exhibition area 5. reading room 6. atrium

section 1. library 2. library garden 3. amphitheatre 4. axhibition area 5. archive 6. atrium 7. lifts 8. secret garden 9. conservation suite 10. reading room

elevation 1. library 2. secret garden 3. library garden

elevation 1. academic plaza 2. amphitheatre / library garden 3. main entrance

project info:

architect: schmidt hammer lassen architects client: university of aberdeen area: 15,500 m2 construction sum: 40 million EUR excl. vat competition: 2005, 1st prize in restricted international competition status: construction period 2009 – 2011 engineer: arup & partners ltd quantity surveyors: davis langdon llp landscape architect: schmidt hammer lassen architects