The Holy Cross Sixth Form College and University Centre in Bury, Greater Manchester, has a long track record as a specialist ‘A’level centre with nationally outstanding results and includes an equally successful University Centre.
As part of its commitment to providing high quality facilities the College has undergone a major upgrade and expansion of its Mary Kelly building. This includes significantly increasing the size of the library to accommodate an increase in students, changing the environment to meet a wider balance of students and additional shelving for increased stock.
The College initially approached Demco Interiors, who carried out the original installation back in the 1990’s, to carry out a pre-project consultation which included producing a feasibility plan, design and product specifications.
The brief was to design a library space which was both modern in style, but still kept to the traditional needs of a higher education library. Feedback from students showed that they wanted more space to spread out and work and study, more seats and more individual study space. The basis for the design worked with a neutral white and grey base palette, with layers of lime green and berry tones across seating and other furnishings with small areas of natural wood.
Space was planned around creating micro environments, where students could either work by themselves in a ‘heads down’ study quiet environment (study carrels were increased from 16 to 100) while balanced with areas designed for group study. The space also needed to enable students to use their personal devices (BYOD) alongside the College resources, so plenty of usbs and sockets around furnishings, was a priority.
The College already had the original Bomefa shelving from the existing library and this was upcycled into the new library. This presented a logistical challenge in detailing which existing elements would be taken offsite whilst the building work was carried out and then brought back to be installed into the new space along with the new shelving runs. All the shelving elements were given new end panels to seamlessly blend the old shelving with the new. The University-style environment was continued with two all-glass, bookable pods, which are proving to be very popular. The flexibility of the larger pod means that it can be used as a library teaching/seminar room.
Iain Hazell, Designer, Demco Interiors specified products and furnishings which were stylish and functional with zones of study carrels and fixed IT workstations, for quiet study. A blend of high impact mix and match colours, stylish curves, low lines, textured fabrics makes this library standout as a contemporary learning space.
Edwina Salmon, Library Development Manager, Holy Cross College said: “Students, staff and visitors are all impressed with the new library. The feeling of space and the design have produced an area that really is conducive to study, which is also modern, open and welcoming. It’s working amazingly well – so nice to see students walk in and stop and say “Wow”.’
See more images of the new library: http://demcointeriors.co.uk/holy-cross-college