Main Library - Revision history

GButtars: /* Design */

2023-09-12T09:23:11Z

Design

GButtars: /* Design */

2023-09-12T09:17:04Z

Design

GButtars: /* Design */

2023-09-12T09:16:20Z

Design

GButtars: /* Design */

2019-06-07T08:23:57Z

Design

Pbarnaby: /* Building */

2015-03-03T12:03:46Z

Building

Pbarnaby: /* Archives */

2015-02-26T12:03:32Z

Pbarnaby: /* Sources */

2015-02-26T11:56:58Z

Sources

Pbarnaby at 11:52, 26 February 2015

2015-02-26T11:52:29Z

Pbarnaby at 11:51, 26 February 2015

2015-02-26T11:51:22Z

Pbarnaby at 11:50, 26 February 2015

2015-02-26T11:50:36Z

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 The new Library was designed by Spence’s Edinburgh office of Spence, Glover & Ferguson. This was the firm’s first library building, and their first encounter with the unique challenges of library design: provision of sufficient storage space for books which entails a massive floor loading; adequate lighting for readers but which presents no threat of heat-damage to books; the need for large open floor spaces, and easy access to stacks. These requirements were met through reinforced concrete construction and reliance on mechanical services: heating, lighting, air conditioning and extraction systems.
-The design process was extremely rigorous, involving extensive researching into existing library structures, and close consultation with the university librarian [[Fifoot, Erik Richard Sidney, 1925-1992|Erik Richard Sidney Fifoot (1925-1992)]] as the team sought to provide space for 2,500 readers, 114 staff and 2 million books.
+The design process was extremely rigorous, involving extensive researching into existing library structures, and close consultation with the university librarian [[Fifoot, Erik Richard Sidney (1925-1992)|Erik Richard Sidney Fifoot (1925-1992)]] as the team sought to provide space for 2,500 readers, 114 staff and 2 million books.
 Spence did not personally produce a design for the library. His partner [[John Hardie Glover (1913-1994)]] was put in charge of the job and appointed [[Andrew Merrylees (1933- )]] as project architect. Merrylees had developed a sketch plan by February 1963 which was approved by the University Grants Committee in June of the same year. Glover, however, was unhappy with the proportions of the front elevation. He consulted with Spence who devised a suspended fascia across the entrance to amend the proportions.

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 The new Library was designed by Spence’s Edinburgh office of Spence, Glover & Ferguson. This was the firm’s first library building, and their first encounter with the unique challenges of library design: provision of sufficient storage space for books which entails a massive floor loading; adequate lighting for readers but which presents no threat of heat-damage to books; the need for large open floor spaces, and easy access to stacks. These requirements were met through reinforced concrete construction and reliance on mechanical services: heating, lighting, air conditioning and extraction systems.
-The design process was extremely rigorous, involving extensive researching into existing library structures, and close consultation with the university librarian [[Erik Richard Sidney Fifoot (1925-1992)|Fifoot, Erik Richard Sidney, 1925-1992]] as the team sought to provide space for 2,500 readers, 114 staff and 2 million books.
+The design process was extremely rigorous, involving extensive researching into existing library structures, and close consultation with the university librarian [[Fifoot, Erik Richard Sidney, 1925-1992|Erik Richard Sidney Fifoot (1925-1992)]] as the team sought to provide space for 2,500 readers, 114 staff and 2 million books.
 Spence did not personally produce a design for the library. His partner [[John Hardie Glover (1913-1994)]] was put in charge of the job and appointed [[Andrew Merrylees (1933- )]] as project architect. Merrylees had developed a sketch plan by February 1963 which was approved by the University Grants Committee in June of the same year. Glover, however, was unhappy with the proportions of the front elevation. He consulted with Spence who devised a suspended fascia across the entrance to amend the proportions.

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 The new Library was designed by Spence’s Edinburgh office of Spence, Glover & Ferguson. This was the firm’s first library building, and their first encounter with the unique challenges of library design: provision of sufficient storage space for books which entails a massive floor loading; adequate lighting for readers but which presents no threat of heat-damage to books; the need for large open floor spaces, and easy access to stacks. These requirements were met through reinforced concrete construction and reliance on mechanical services: heating, lighting, air conditioning and extraction systems.
-The design process was extremely rigorous, involving extensive researching into existing library structures, and close consultation with the university librarian [[Erik Richard Sidney Fifoot (1925-1992)|Richard Fifoot (1925-1992)]] as the team sought to provide space for 2,500 readers, 114 staff and 2 million books.
+The design process was extremely rigorous, involving extensive researching into existing library structures, and close consultation with the university librarian [[Erik Richard Sidney Fifoot (1925-1992)|Fifoot, Erik Richard Sidney, 1925-1992]] as the team sought to provide space for 2,500 readers, 114 staff and 2 million books.
 Spence did not personally produce a design for the library. His partner [[John Hardie Glover (1913-1994)]] was put in charge of the job and appointed [[Andrew Merrylees (1933- )]] as project architect. Merrylees had developed a sketch plan by February 1963 which was approved by the University Grants Committee in June of the same year. Glover, however, was unhappy with the proportions of the front elevation. He consulted with Spence who devised a suspended fascia across the entrance to amend the proportions.

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 The design process was extremely rigorous, involving extensive researching into existing library structures, and close consultation with the university librarian [[Erik Richard Sidney Fifoot (1925-1992)|Richard Fifoot (1925-1992)]] as the team sought to provide space for 2,500 readers, 114 staff and 2 million books.
-Spence did not personally produce a design for the library. His partner [[John Hardie Glover (1913-1994)]] was put in charge of the job and appointed [[Andrew Merrylees (1933- )]] as project archivist. Merrylees had developed a sketch plan by February 1963 which was approved by the University Grants Committee in June of the same year. Glover, however, was unhappy with the proportions of the front elevation. He consulted with Spence who devised a suspended fascia across the entrance to amend the proportions.
+Spence did not personally produce a design for the library. His partner [[John Hardie Glover (1913-1994)]] was put in charge of the job and appointed [[Andrew Merrylees (1933- )]] as project architect. Merrylees had developed a sketch plan by February 1963 which was approved by the University Grants Committee in June of the same year. Glover, however, was unhappy with the proportions of the front elevation. He consulted with Spence who devised a suspended fascia across the entrance to amend the proportions.
 == Building ==

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 == Building ==
-Planning consent was granted in November 1964, and construction began working with a budget of £1,700,000, a considerable sum for the time. When completed in August 1967, the Library was the largest building of its type in Britain. It was met with immediate acclaim, earning a RIBA award in 1968 and a Civic Trust Commendation in 1969. Today it is recognized as one of the major modernist works in Scotland is a category A listed building. The experience gained by Spence’s team in building the Main Library was put to futher use in their designs for Newcastle Central Library, University College Dublin Library, the Sidney Jones Library (Liverpool University) and the Cameron Small Library (Heriot Watt University).
+Planning consent was granted in November 1964, and construction began working with a budget of £1,700,000, a considerable sum for the time. When completed in August 1967, the Library was the largest building of its type in Britain. It was met with immediate acclaim, earning a RIBA award in 1968 and a Civic Trust Commendation in 1969. Today it is recognized as one of the major modernist works in Scotland is a category A listed building. The experience gained by Spence’s team in building the Main Library was put to further use in their designs for Newcastle Central Library, University College Dublin Library, the Sidney Jones Library (Liverpool University) and the Cameron Small Library (Heriot Watt University).
 == Redevelopment ==

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 == Archives ==
 *[[Main Library: Architectural and Structural Drawings]]
 == Sources ==
 *Clive B. Fenton, 'The Library Designs of Sir Basil Spence, Glover & Ferguson', ''Architectural Heritage'', 24.1 (2013), 87-102.
 [[Category:Campus]]

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 == Planning ==
-By the mid-20th century, it had become evident that Library accommodation within the [[Old College]] complex was inadequate for the future needs of the university. In 1949 the Library Committee began to look into what might be needed for an entirely new building. Plans for a new library were soon incorporated into the massive redevelopment of Edinburgh University’s [[Faculty of Arts|Arts Faculty centered on [[George Square]], originally a Georgian residential square with a large central garden. A layout was devised for the new Arts campus by architect [[Sir Basil Urwin Spence (1907-1976)]] in 1955, and, in the same year, [[Percy Edwin Alan Johnson-Marshall (1915-1993)|Percy Johnson-Marshall (1915-1993)]] was appointed as Planning Consultant with  responsibility for the overall layout, designation of sites, harmonisation of finishes, landscaping and external works.
+By the mid-20th century, it had become evident that Library accommodation within the [[Old College]] complex was inadequate for the future needs of the university. In 1949 the Library Committee began to look into what might be needed for an entirely new building. Plans for a new library were soon incorporated into the massive redevelopment of Edinburgh University’s [[Faculty of Arts|Arts Faculty]] centered on [[George Square]], originally a Georgian residential square with a large central garden. A layout was devised for the new Arts campus by architect [[Sir Basil Urwin Spence (1907-1976)]] in 1955, and, in the same year, [[Percy Edwin Alan Johnson-Marshall (1915-1993)|Percy Johnson-Marshall (1915-1993)]] was appointed as Planning Consultant with  responsibility for the overall layout, designation of sites, harmonisation of finishes, landscaping and external works.
 == Design ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:51, 26 February 2015
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−	The Main Library is the largest of Edinburgh University's Libraries. It holds the primary collections in arts, humanities, social sciences, medicine and informatics. It also houses the [[Library~~]][[[[Link title]][[Link title]]~~]]'s general collections of books and periodicals, older books in all subjects, most of the special collections of rare books and manuscripts, the University archives and the Lothian Health Service Archive.	+	The Main Library is the largest of Edinburgh University's Libraries. It holds the primary collections in arts, humanities, social sciences, medicine and informatics. It also houses the [[Library]]'s general collections of books and periodicals, older books in all subjects, most of the special collections of rare books and manuscripts, the University archives and the Lothian Health Service Archive.

	== Planning ==		== Planning ==

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-The Main Library is the largest of Edinburgh University's Libraries.
+The Main Library is the largest of Edinburgh University's Libraries. It holds the primary collections in arts, humanities, social sciences, medicine and informatics. It also houses the [[Library]][[[[Link title]][[Link title]]]]'s general collections of books and periodicals, older books in all subjects, most of the special collections of rare books and manuscripts, the University archives and the Lothian Health Service Archive.
-It holds the primary collections in arts, humanities, social sciences, medicine and informatics.
+== Planning ==
-It also houses the Library's general collections of books and periodicals, older books in all subjects, most of the special collections of rare books and manuscripts, the University archives and the Lothian Health Service Archive.
+By the mid-20th century, it had become evident that Library accommodation within the [[Old College]] complex was inadequate for the future needs of the university. In 1949 the Library Committee began to look into what might be needed for an entirely new building. Plans for a new library were soon incorporated into the massive redevelopment of Edinburgh University’s [[Faculty of Arts|Arts Faculty centered on [[George Square]], originally a Georgian residential square with a large central garden. A layout was devised for the new Arts campus by architect [[Sir Basil Urwin Spence (1907-1976)]] in 1955, and, in the same year, [[Percy Edwin Alan Johnson-Marshall (1915-1993)|Percy Johnson-Marshall (1915-1993)]] was appointed as Planning Consultant with  responsibility for the overall layout, designation of sites, harmonisation of finishes, landscaping and external works.
-The Library is situated on the south side of George Square.
+== Design ==