Library

Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge

Winner – RIBA 'Spirit of Ingenuity' Award, 2012

Following an invited competition, Kilburn Nightingale were delighted to be selected for the new Library project for Emmanuel College in Cambridge.

An important project for the practice, the scheme involves the masterplanning of part of the College's grounds (which include the grade 1 listed chapel by Christopher Wren), the refurbishment of the Edwardian library building and new extensions and alterations.

The work improves access (including disabled access) to all parts of the library, provide additional reader spaces, book storage space and new offices. The main reading room is improved and a range of new reader spaces created, including individual reading carrels among the books and new spaces overlooking gardens. Shading, insulation and low-energy systems of environmental control have been introduced to create a comfortable reading environment and provide the proper conditions for the conservation of books and archives.

In the media:

• 'Emmanuel College Library, Cambridge' in A[rchitects' J[ournal] Specification supplement, 02 2012
• 'Skräddarsydd träarkitektur i Storbritannien' ['Bespoke wood architecture in Great Britain'] -Trä, Nummer 2, 2012
• 'New Library for Emmanuel College, Cambridge.' Cover project for hinge Magazine, Issue 198, February 2012
• 'Adding incremental layers of new build,' in education design & build, Jan/Feb 2012
  
• 'Emma Extends' Featured project in 'College Libraries', Cambridge Architecture, No. 62, Spring / Summer 2011. By Jeremy Lander.
• 'A turn to the light: remaking a Cambridge library' Cover project in Architecture Today, Issue 222, October 2011. By Dean Hawkes.