Muriel Stott Redevelopment
12 Dec 2024
As mentioned in the Leadership Team all staff meeting, we are currently developing plans for various improvements to Main Library. The first of these, the Muriel Stott (MS) redevelopment, has been in the pipeline for some time and is now on track to deliver next summer.
Work will commence in July 2025, to be completed in time for the beginning of semester 1. Isabel Sebastian has been project managing, and we have worked closely with Estates colleagues and designers to develop plans for what we hope to be a real transformation of both the study space and the surrounding courtyard area, which can be seen from so many areas of Main Library.
Our designs have been developed with student need at the forefront, based on an assessment of feedback and usage data from the past few years (thank you Michael Douglas!), Library staff consultation, input from our MA students, as well as SU representation on the original Library project group that formed the proposal.
Please note all plans and images included are purely indicative at this point in time and are not finalised.
The indoor study space
Our focus has been on providing quality, bookable silent study spaces within a calm and traditional ‘library’ atmosphere, with furniture in keeping with the aesthetic of the building. We hope to improve the wellbeing of users through the provision of ambient and task lighting, which is adjustable to meet multiple functions and varying sensory needs to support neurodivergent Library users. We are also including:
- 36 large bookable desk spaces (1800 x 800mm);
- A central sculpture/terrarium privately commissioned to reference the architecture of the building and introduce greenery for wellbeing;
- Artwork panels to bring in images from our special collections;
- Replacement windows to improve air quality and reduce CO2 emissions;
- Redecoration and recarpeting throughout.
The courtyard
With wellbeing in mind, the courtyard will provide access to a mixture of formal all-weather study spaces and more relaxed individual seating in quieter areas.
Both sides of the current outside courtyard are to be developed and opened up for both student and staff use, so we will all get to benefit from these improvements (swipe access will be installed for access to the staff room).
The walkway across to MS will be redesigned to be more open and inviting, whilst still offering a sheltered accessible route to the internal study spaces.
Accessibility & Environmental Sustainability
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is being carried out to ensure development is in line with all requirements, as per our new Library Spaces Policy Statement
The Estates project team have been consulting with central Environmental Sustainability colleagues on our behalf to ensure trees are kept where possible (i.e. not causing structural damage) and that where replacements are necessary that they are offset elsewhere on campus, as well as seeking advice on other ways to make the spaces more sustainable. As well as reusing the fabric of the building rather than building new, we plan to reuse existing IT equipment, ensure lighting can be preset to reduce electricity use, keeping outside lighting to a minimum and choosing sustainable materials for our external furniture etc.
Communications to students will begin from January and we will share further images and plans as they become available, keeping you updated with more details as the project progresses. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please do contact a member of the project group:
Olivia Walsby
Isabel Sebastian
Martin O’Dwyer
Ciaran Pook
Ria Sunga.