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University of Sussex Library Circular Elevator Tower and Walkway, UK, English Projects, Planning Permissions News, Architecture Images
February 4, 2024
Architecture: Keith Williams Architects
Location: Sussex, England
University of Sussex circular lift tower and walkways
Keith Williams Architects’ design for a circular lift tower and walkways at the University of Sussex Library has been agreed.
for new designs Round brick elevator tower and walkway Basil Spence’s Grade II* listed University of Sussex Library, designed by Keith Williams Architects, has received approval from Brighton and Hove City Council, paving the way for technical design and construction to begin later this year.
Opened in 1961, the University of Sussex was the first of seven so-called post-war plate glass universities, designed by Sir Basil Spence and incorporating post-war mid-20th century university architecture Some of the finest works of. Most of the eight core buildings designed by Spencer are now on the market.
Spence envisioned the university library as a “treasury of knowledge”. The university library is located on a sloping grass slope 5m above the main passage. The building’s large-scale brick structure, concrete arched roof and huge staircase create a An almost temple-like powerful composition.
A monumental staircase leading to the off-center entrance is located between two large blind brick planes. The library’s main facade is composed of red brick and exposed, wood-panelled concrete. Its main facade forms a monumental order of 15 bays, three of which are flanked by projecting brick buttresses. Vertical strip windows punctuate large expanses of blind brick walls.
Keith Williams’ proposal, a key part of the university’s push for universal access across campus, would see the addition of a free-standing, circular brick lift tower directly in front of the library’s main facade, connecting the university’s main public spaces (Books Plaza) and the main entrance to the library. A new 80m long concrete walkway will be placed above Spence’s now largely redundant concrete service plinth, which currently runs along the top of the grass bank at the base of the library, linking the lift tower and library to the wider university campus connect them.
The elevator’s design as a brick circular drum/tower is a reference to other circular buildings on campus designed by Spence.
The brick tower will be constructed of red Sussex fillet stretcher bonded bricks, with a textured precast concrete frame at the entrance to reflect the materiality of Spence’s original facade. Niches with herringbone brickwork draw on the Sussex vernacular but are reinterpreted in a minimalist way to add to the tower’s sculptural form and monumentality. The result sets the new work apart from Spence’s work but also establishes a strong contextual link with it.
Fiona Courage, Deputy Director of the University of Sussex Libraries, said: “Creating a fully accessible main entrance to our library has been a long-standing wish of the University of Sussex, so we are delighted to have been granted planning permission. Approved Plans respect our architectural heritage while creating a modern, accessible entrance that meets the needs and expectations of our university community. We are committed to making our campus more accessible with the addition of a new accessible library entrance Marks the first step in opening our iconic libraries to everyone.”
Start-up works are expected to begin in mid-2024 and be completed in 2025.
The team of consultants working with the Keith Williams Architects team at the University of Sussex includes planning consultant Parker Dann, AVR London, ARUP and cost consultant Atkins Réalis in a multi-disciplinary engineering role
About the University of Sussex
For more than 60 years, the goals of our courses, research, culture and campus have been to stimulate, excite and challenge. From scientific discovery to global policy, from student welfare to career development, the University of Sussex innovates and leads. Today, in every corner of society around the world, you will find people from the University of Sussex making original and valuable contributions. Visit https://www.sussex.ac.uk/
About Keith Williams Architects
Founded in 2001, Keith Williams Architects is one of the UK’s leading established architectural practices, with a portfolio that includes a range of high-profile, award-winning projects for private and public sector clients. The London-based firm works on a wide range of projects internationally and is a leading designer of museums, galleries, libraries, civic and performing arts buildings.
KWA’s projects include the Unicorn Theater in London, the Marlowe Theater in Canterbury, the Novum Museum in Chichester, the Irish National Opera in Wexford, Athlone Civic Center and the Louan Art Gallery, Clone Library and County Monaghan Corporate Library Headquarters, both in Ireland
The company’s new county library and art gallery in Ennis, County Clare, is due to open in June 2024.
The company’s work has won some 40 national and international design awards.
Architecture: Keith Williams Architects – http://www.keithwilliamsarchitects.com/
Circular lift tower and walkways at the University of Sussex Library, UK Picture/Information Received 040224
Location: Sussex, England, United Kingdom
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