A paper presented at the satellite meeting of IFLA World Congress 2013: Making ends meet: high quality design on a low budget, held 5-16 August 2013 at Li Ka Shing University Library, Singapore Management University, Singapore
Philosophy of Education and Educational Philosophy
Achieving Library Refurbishment: Get the most out of matched funding and careful design planning . Author: Ursula Byrne
1. Achieving Library
Refurbishment:
Get the most out of matched funding and
careful design planning
Ursula Byrne, Head of Development & Strategic Programmes,
UCD, Ireland
2. Context 1
• University College Dublin
– largest university in Ireland
– C.25,000 users
– 5 libraries
– James Joyce Library
• Spence, Glover & Ferguson Architects
• Phase 1 (1972); Phase 2 (1987)
• 15,000sq m
• library occupies c.13,600 sq m
• c. 1million visits per year
3. Context 2: economic overview
• Irish Celtic Tiger – 1990s / 2000s
• 2007 / 2009 - Economy (GDP) shrank by 11%
– Unemployment rose from 4.5% - > c. 15%
– increased student no. ; decreased staff no.
– Reduction in Higher education funding over 2009/10 by
15%
• Library budget reduced by 27% between 07/08 and 11/12
4. Context 3: being successful
• understanding user needs
• Irish / International trends
• Local needs - Group study room usage ; LibQual
• high quality flexible spaces
• Making a pitch -> Communicating your vision
• Short & long term projects
• phased development
• £££ -Matched funding
• Commitment to process & timeframe
• Build on trust and credibility
• Influencing future change /decision making
• high quality space - to engage key stake holders
5. Timeline - Spring to Autumn 2012
• Spring 2012 - make the case for matched funding
• Appoint architects
• Brief /timeframe discussed
• Tender process / Builders appointed
• Clearing space – liaise with various units to weed/ clear spacess
• Furniture/fittings selection /reselection
• Changing the brief ; size of refurbished space
• Start of term – users disrupted
• End of Oct - Library Hub opened
• December – B&S approach Library with another project….
6. Reddy Architects : Design brief
• 1970s building -horizontal lines of concrete
and glass
Brief :
• modern and contemporary
• design layout that includes wall, flooring, seating and canopy
areas.
• ability to extend design across different areas, as funding
comes on stream;
• ability to use bright or quiet combinations of colours
• Allow us to develop individual projects that meet different user
needs, while creating an overall sense of unity
• Flexibility
• Maximise access to power
7. • circular patterns used in design concept
– in wall panels, lighting, furniture, signage etc. :
– in carpets - provides for scenarios where carpet colours/styles not
available in the future.
• Strong bright colour palate
• phasing doesn’t look patchy, or produce dated sections.
• Living with risk
11. • Overall plan of space
• re purpose under-used “prime
space” - with natural light; good
views; proximity to service
desk & library entrance
• bringing colleagues on board
with the idea of introducing
busy/noisy learning space into a
previously quiet library.
14. • Getting acoustics right was critical to success.
• Fabric; high booths; acoustic clouds
• Limiting number of seats
15. • high quality finish ; durability ;
• choice of seating - high stools; chairs; high booths -
• computers
• carpet finishes •
16. • access to technology /electrical power
• some wired for laptop users; some with
Library PCs;
• individual work spaces
• very positive feedback from the library user
community
17. • “reception area”
• over 65 seats,
• spaces don’t have to be booked in advance
• comfortable flexible furniture some of which
can be moved
20. Special Collections
• Upgrade of office area, expanded seating
capacity for readers
• Follow through with circles / colour scheme
Carpet placed before glass
• Maximise access to natural light
22. • Colour contrast
• Increased visibility
• Images on glass
• Irish language in
signage
23. Multipurpose learning space
• Nov 2012 approached by
UCD Buildings & Services
• temporarily space to
house Maths Support
Unit
• 6 months tenancy
• Funding provided
• Benefit of using
memorandum of
understanding
• Maximise access to the
space
• Opportunities to establish
other library initiatives
24. Prerequisites
• Collaborative learning space
• located just inside the entrance area
• highly visible location ; high footfall.
• glass fronted room, over 50 sq. meters in size.
• accommodating new and important services to meet
changing user needs
26. New Service Desk
• new multi-purpose learning
space provided other
opportunities
• Develop new service desk
– Wanted to do for this some time
- no budget.
– resurfaced a part of the old
desk with Corian.
– Repositioned desk - opposite the
entrance
•
27. Phase 2
• Continued theme of
circles
• Recovered old desk
in Corian
• Welcome - Fáilte
• New desk reflects
new model of
library service
provision
• growing popularity
of self service
29. Art in spaces
• using more art /colour
• improve aesthetic
feel of the library
– create environments
that are
pleasant, inviting and
inspiring to work in.
• borrowing pieces from
the university art
collection
• commissioning wall
panels that illustrate
images of literary
interest
Hinweis der Redaktion
higher footfall in Irish univ than in USADipped for a few yrs, now on the rise againDesigned in 2 phases - by J Hardie Glover
Boom to bustEarnings fell / gross domestic product2010 European University Association report looking at the effects of the recession on universities in Europe, singled out Ireland as one of the hardest-hit countries, with reductions in higher educational funding, over 2009/2010 of 15%. Not a lot of refurbishment /redesign development – although Escalators , wiring etc. doneNew position – building – higher agendaNetworking – B&S
Elevator pitch Buildings & ServicesUnderstanding user needs - Visits to other libraries – USA, Australia, UK, Ireland. Local reasoning group room usage / researchLibQual - assessment tool to establish user satisfaction - recent survey Ireland -users believe we are not meeting their minimum standards which it comes to the library buildings, lowest preforming question within the core questions, was dissatisfaction with “quiet space for individuals” Newman / Joyce bigger project – voice at the table – experience/competencies accepted, soughtImpact short term and long term projects Influencing future change – tied in with credibility - local and univ wide. Knowing who you need to talk to - with own library colleagues; With B&S; senior management in university; policy around supported learning spaces rather than satellite development in random areas – punters move to new spaces; visitors to space from Irish libraries; recently in Guardianwitness share your library photographs – new spaces/uses Just do it
Timing – had to do it when B&S thinking about own spend…Architect is critical to successAlways more work to be done – clearing spaces ; Summer time – holidaysChanging the brief – size of space to be developedChange in budgetChoosing furniture – decide what will work – then cant afford it ; not available in colour scheme Fitting in with other units timelines; Negotiations…. Communication with our users – posters A0 ; website; images ; reasoning; apologies for disruptionDecember New project – fatigue with change, disruption, noise
http://www.reddyarchitecture.com/Great working relationship with Architects . Communication very important. Highly recommend companyTotal commitment, listened to brief, creative and innovative. Pivitol to success
Living with risk, and taking chances with design and colour, knowing it can be changed if it doesn’t work is part of the process and one we embraced. Cant keep everyone happy – academic who said it was too young for him !!Colours we used in State library in NSW Australia
As we are simultaneously involved in planning a vision document for the much larger refurbishment project mentioned above, the design brief also emphasised the need for future space planning, and to develop movable elements that could be re-configured or repurposed to meet future needs. We wanted spaces to have a high level of flexibility and convertibility - an aspect lacking in the current library.No project happens in isolation – beware of knock on work busy summer - negotiating /moving 90% staff to alternative office spaces, compacted xxx meters of shelving, weeded, relocating a general reference collection, refurbishing Special Collections reading room, Projects = new social learning space; new office spaces for some staff; refurbished locker rooms; extra collections storage space; wall panels and signage, and clearing and refreshing the foyer area. (Images of crates/ moves)
Social learning space: very aware that more learning is taking place outside of class room, increased emphasis on group work / “team based learning”. We had no informal spaces for this type of work in the Library. limited number of group study rooms - continuously in use - had to be booked in advance. Originally looking at smaller size spacePoint out : Views of lake..Use of circlesDesks around pillars – where power located
Coveted spaceMuch argument over time re who uses it /how its used… who decides? Same tables!
Initial space - to engage key stake holders To influence university management To ensure library is visible from outsideAfter….. Fixing furniture to the floor….
Day and night; circles; Not much ground floor signage
BoothsUse of fabricNo branding here in this photo …
limiting the amount of seating initially to manage noise Computer mapped to back of chairscalled the Library Hub – brandingstimulating space with access to technology and electrical power, as well as beautiful views across the campus lake. 65 seats, its available to our users whenever the Library is open, and spaces do not have to be booked in advance. With lovely views of the lake, and a variety comfortable flexible furniture - some of which can be moved to meet user needs. proved very popular - range of seating – some wired for laptop users; some with Library PCs; and also individual work spaces. It also has a glass magnetic board. first step in the re-imagination of the entrance level of the James Joyce Library. very positive feedback from the library user community, and has opened up a new dimension to how the student community engages with the library.
With lovely views of the lake, and a. This space has proved very popular with our users, and has. It also has a glass magnetic board. first step in the re-imagination of the entrance level of the James Joyce Library. very positive feedback from the library user community, and has opened up a new dimension to how the student community engages with the library.
Need to think about cleaning bills – Life of fabric chairs – 5 years - lecture theatres… Cant move skirting on pillarsBolted chairs at window
Special CollectionsAs a physical space, UCD Library continues to serve the traditional function of providing access to collections, but the nature of those collections is changing and a higher proportion of our holdings become distinguished for their rarity and their historical importance, and so more materials fall into the category of “Special Collections”. renovated Special Collections Reading Room, upgrading the office area, expanded seating capacity for readers of UCD Library's rare and unique holdings,reading area a far more congenial place for consultation of valuable materials. Small exhibitions are now held in this space also.
Part of overall visionMulti-purpose roomLearning curveFuture uses: exhibitions, career fairs, book launches Work with student support servicesBranding on the glassNaming the spacefirst users UCD Maths Support Centre, - providing classes and a drop in clinic learned a lot from the experience of temporarily housing university colleagues in library spaces – in terms of how to negotiate usage of the space, maximising access to the space, and the benefit of using memorandum of understandings. This new space also offered us the opportunity to establish other library initiativesNew flexible furniture; stackable chairs, flip tables , screens whiteboards purchased this summer - take white boards off wallsProjector New Service desk – took opportunity/
The new enclosed collaborative learning space Managing noiseSome degree of privacy located just inside the entrance area; highly visible location where there is high footfall. attractive glass fronted room, over 50 sq. meters in size. Orientation – hub space just further alongexcellent example of how library spaces can be developed to provide new and important services to accommodate the changing needs of our usersMaths doubled their footfall …
Because of required location….
Phase 2Had established our rep. late Nov 2012, approached by UCD Buildings & Services to discuss the opportunity for the Library to house, temporarily, the university’s Maths Support Unit. This proposal fitted in with our aim to continue the redevelopment of level 1, and to develop multi-purpose learning spaces /rooms, located in centralised visible locations, for use as social learning spaces, for exhibitions, career fairs, book launches; and also where learning support services could book the use of this space for their users.
Opening day – publicity – gift for first user…
Art in spaces: We are now using more colour and art work in library spaces to improve the aesthetic feel of the library and create environments that are pleasant, inviting and inspiring to work in. For these we are both borrowing pieces from the university art collection. and also commissioning some Key sources: Sculpture by Ken DrewLibQual data by Ciara McCaffertyLibQUAL in Ireland: Performance Assessment and Service Improvement in Irish University Libraries. Journal of Academic Librarianship January 2013University library photographs - UCD Library Hub on Guardian website: https://witness.guardian.co.uk/assignment/51efb656e4b06151042bb5afSum up - Developing high quality user spaces -> in a library area where users are supported in their learningBlend between teaching and learning spacesResult less fragmentation of thinking around increase in use of space when refurbished, change perception on library by academic community ( academics perception of library – use themselves? Eg. reorganisation of staff –2 years later change space layout “I see library is changing how they deliver service…)Opportunity to meet student needs – student engagement in supported environment; change service model;
JJl panel Use of circles in carpets add in special collectionsCircular desk around pillars – very popularPower, wall panels that illustrate images of literary interest. Designed by Ger Garland - gergarland@eircom.netThe main Library in Belfield renamed James Joyce Library - honour UCD’s most famous alumnus. In summer 2012 two wall panels relating to Joyce were installed in the Library building. The panels give a visual indication that you are in the JJL
Panel in lower ground floor space - Designed by Ger Garland - gergarland@eircom.net
Images of build environment around campus Designed by Ger Garland - gergarland@eircom.net