The large open building which formed the LRC was previously a polo school with a curved roof structure and lantern roof light. The project upgraded the fabric of the building and inserted extra floor area on a mezzanine. The practice working closely with library staff and the colleges estates team developed a concept design and then a detailed scheme to transform the space. Key was incorporating IT use into the design as well as traditional library facilities.
To maintain design control of the end product the scheme was tendered on a traditional basis with a bill of quantities. The scheme attempted to reuse as much of the existing structure as possible, the new floor being steel framed within the space. Modern and traditional methods were used to enhance the exterior.
