Camberwell College of Arts

Camberwell College of Arts, United Kingdom

Although the general trend for accommodation of university library physical stock is down, as an arts university UAL aims not only to retain existing stock but allow for future growth.

In addition to the challenge, the range of size and weight of art books, as well as the intricacies of their sequencing, needed to be taken in to consideration in the planning of this new space.

> Read more about the project

Library interior design

Occupying a floor of the new build extension at Camberwell College of Arts, the new library would increase the existing square meterage by approximately one third, and it was felt that the suggested ‘oblique’ runs of shelving would best meet the stock and space requirement. It would also allow for easy navigation, a straightforward sequencing, and clear visibility of end of bay guiding.

In consultation with Kevin Canning and his team, it was agreed that the Uniflex Shelving System using extra height and depth of shelves would be required.

With a view to achieving and exceeding the thermal mass BREEAM rating, one further unique challenge posed by the project architect was for a shelving system capable of bearing considerable extra weight in the form of cement particle board panels to sit on top of the canopies.

After careful deliberation, Uniflex four-posted shelving system was specified. It would not only meet the demands as described, but its minimalist clean lines was in keeping with UAL students’ preferred aesthetic theme.

Locking glass doors with a wooden surround were specified in the Special Collections room together with a bespoke unit for large books also with glass locking doors.

Don't take our word for it...

”We knew from the outset that we would need a shelving system that was very stable, given the long runs of shelves we would need to have and the loads they would be expected to carry. Thus, we favoured a four post system for this purpose. Uniflex offered strength with the aesthetic we wanted to achieve in the new Library. Thedesignconcept ltd. helped us create a layout that allowed lots of daylight into the aisles, that made for easy navigation around the collections as well as being visually appealing.”

Kevin Canning
Assistant Learning Resources Manager
Camberwell College of Arts