Education \ Proposed Library, East Road Campus of Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge

Anglia Ruskin University’s Cambridge campus is heavily congested and, in the centre, sits a university library which had been the subject of a number of unfortunate ad hoc extensions over the years. There is also a small theatre but without a foyer. In 2012 the University requested a project which involved demolition of the existing library and construction of a completely new library, a new foyer for the theatre and a partly renovated science faculty including a new “super laboratory”, being an innovative large laboratory capable of hosting several science classes simultaneously.

The library design only has one free elevation where a large window would look onto an existing small garden courtyard. The other three walls are formed of a stepped hillside of books and reading desks over four levels. The 45-degree geometry gives maximum individual desk space and forms alcoves for tables of four readers.  Aalto’s many stepped section libraries along with Asplund’s masterpiece Stockholm City Library were the inspirations.  Within the section are additional stacks of books, enclosed reading and group rooms, offices etc. The super laboratory sits above the library and a Soanian hidden source of light enters around three sides of the laboratory into the upper reaches of the library.  An internal street is formed for a new access to both the theatre and library and this doubles as a new theatre foyer.

The design had the enthusiastic backing of the University Board and the Vice Chancellor but unfortunately the librarian took against it and without her support the vice chancellor decided he couldn’t proceed. However, a completely new Science Faculty (including super laboratory) was built instead but sadly the library remains the same to this day.