Laidlaw Library

On the main University campus, with two entrances, one onto campus, and the other onto a main road passing the University entrance.
The building form is roughly rectangular, but is designed to fit the existing site, located between 2 listed churches and 2 roads to front & rear. Level access is provided from Woodhouse lane maximising accessibility
across a site with difficult topography of a 3m drop. This level enables a lower ground floor accessible from Hillary place.
The ground floor is predominantly open access for social learning, cafe spaces
with secure access to training rooms and the community classroom.
Upper levels are predominantly open plan, maximising flexibility with a central WC and
lift core, with quiet study and bookstock being located on the top three
floors.
The floor plates of the building are simple and flexible, with an insitu concrete frame and floor slabs, ensuring that the accommodation can be altered and adapted easily in the future. The use of insitu concrete also provides thermal mass to aid temperature control.
External walls are solid Portland stone on an insulated reinforced concrete backing, with plastered blockwork internally.
High performance double glazed windows.
All levels fully accessible with purpose designed accessible teaching rooms, wash rooms & toilets.
The building is designed to the University’s Sustainable Construction Guide with insulation levels 25% better than building regulations & air tightness 4 times better. Other features;
Automatic lighting system to supplement and enhance daylight levels and
through absence detection via PIRs
LED lighting
Displacement air system Energy efficient plant and system selection with heat recovery
District heating system utilising UoL steam main
Use of revolving doors to maintain air tightness
The use of low flush toilets with dual flush, push taps each toilet area linked to an infra-red movement detector.
Green roof areas.
225m2 photovoltaic (PV)