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Design statement Design concept Poster Annotated floorplan Render for Foyer Sketch for art piece Concept for Security Sketch of welcome area Concept of Signage Placement of signage Render of short stay area Render of journal area Sketch of atrium Render of atrium Sketch of reading nook Technical drawing of reading nook Concept of atrium elevation Render of atrium levels Sketch of group study area Render of group study area Render of back of stadium seating Sketches of stadium seating design Sketch of creative area Render of creative area CAD drawings of technology suite Render of Technology suite Render of PCP room Sketches of printing stations Public consultation feedback Acoustic solutions Furniture specification table Ceiling plan Floor finish plan Conclusion
Design Statement
Design Statement To redesign the ground floor of the Learning Resources Centre (LRC) creating a flexible and welcoming workspace aligned to specific student, faculty, and public needs. The layout will make better use of the space encouraging more flexibility for student activity and University events. The design will incorporate areas of interest that will not invade the structure but make the space completely distinct from other campuses, making it deserving of its flagship status and to attract prospective students.
Design Concept
The concept for my design is ‘Inclusion’. From the material given to us by the LRC staff, feedback from students and my own research, I have concluded that the most important role of the LRC is to cater to as many students as possible. The LRC is unique in that it is the only facility on campus that is open to all students, 24 hours a day, making it arguably the most important and visited building on College Lane.
Considerations •
Engaging spaces – The LRC is a key element of the University proposition for potential applicants so the entrance areas need to be both welcoming and connected to academic endeavor whilst maintaining security for students and the resources within the LRC.
Response •
Engaging spaces – My design incorporates a large scale sculpture depicting the University mascot which could be constructed by students and represent them. The art piece will hang in the foyer and be visible both internally and externally to promote school unity.
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Environment considerations – Soft furnishings and materials have been incorporated into the design to soften noise levels and areas have been created where more noise is likely to be created. Other acoustic solutions will be presented for consideration.
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Environment considerations – Providing an engaging environment with appropriate noise mitigation and segregation for different locations and activities.
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Robust design – fittings need to be easily maintained, flexible and with a lifespan of 8 years or more.
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Robust design – The furnishings will be made from robust materials to handle the large scale traffic all year round.
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Cost constraints – as a publicly funded institution, the University needs to be prudent financially.
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Cost constraints – Some of the structural pieces and walkways will be constructed from reclaimed wood. Very little construction will be involved and a lot of the original layout will be used for minimal work.
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Navigation – Signposting and wayfinding is essential within and beyond the space.
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Structural works – The design should not involve significant restructuring of the building shell but could include smaller scale changes such as erection or removal of partition walls etc.
Navigation – Custom signage pieces have been created for students of all nationalities to understand. Wayfinding points for campus have been incorporated in the foyer and by the staircase of the ground floor.
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Look and feel – The design, furnishings, colour choices and materials need to take account and be aligned with other spaces within the LRC and the overall plan for the LRCS.
Structural works – The biggest structural difference would be the removal of the back staircase to be replace with stadium style seating. This should not be an issue as the staircase is not a structural piece and can be easily removed.
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Look and feel – The design incorporates materials and colours similar to the newly renovated café but still has it’s own distinct colour pattern for a more calming space.
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Public Consultation Feedback
feedback
The overall feedback for my design from the public consultation was positive. The colour scheme and theme proved to be popular with the students and staff. Most of the concern regarding the design was for noise control. To respond to the concern I have incorporated a number of acoustic lighting solutions and added partition furniture to absorb the noise from the ground floor. The floor is not designed to be silent study but through use of soft furnishings and natural elements, the noise should be minimal when travelling further up the floors.
Short Stay
Annotated Floorplan
Long Stay
Exhibition Space and Gallery
Group Study
Stationery Shop Journal Reading Area
Welcome Desk
Book Return
Combined Entrance/Exit
Printing Station Technology Suite
Private Collection (PCP) Room
Quiet Thinking Cone
Creative Space/Media Prep
Printing Station
Extra Computer Space
My design sees the PCP room moved to a larger location to an area where the books can be utilised better and more visible. Currently the PCP room is used for storage, I want this room to be a place where one can pull a book from the shelf, sit my the fire in peace and read or study. The room will also house a couple of desks and seating area to form another staff room for anyone seeking a quiet environment to eat their lunch or finish their work.
By incorporating a small shop where the exit of the library is, there is a small, peaceful area suitable for displaying journals. This area is away from the main traffic routes of the library allowing anyone to take a journal from the wall shelves, and sit down in a quiet environment. As the corner will see less light by removing the exit, the design will incorporate a truly interesting light piece suspended from the ceiling.
I have created clear walkways through the ground floor to allow a steady flow of traffic and causing as little disruption as possible. The walkways will be made from Oak cladding which continues up the partition walls to make a light an open zone for movement. The furniture will follow the colour scheme of the rest of the design but the work space will be a lot smaller encouraging shorter stays. This area is designed for meeting friends, relaxation or to quickly print work.
The photograph of the current media preparation area was taken at around 2pm on a weekday during a busy period in the LRC. As you can see the area is not utilised at all. To make better use of the area, I have created a space with a more studio vibe for students from the school of creative arts. Each desk has a wall-mounted paper roll that students can tear off for their specific use. I have added custom shelves for students to store their projects to keep the area tidy and added lighting for the later hours. Pegs will hang by each desk to keep bags and coats off the floor and allow as much room as necessary for students to work. The space will be more enclosed so as not to disrupt the rest of the ground floor. For flexibility the stools and desks can be moved to allow a room for other functions and exhibits.
My design will open up the Technology suite to allow the natural light from the windows to reach the rest of the ground floor. Noise will be mitigated by oak paneling and desks and a glass partition suspended from the ceiling. The room will house 36 PC computers and 24 macs. The design will compliment the rest of the ground floor by continuing the colour theme and oak cladding. Lightening the furnishings and surfaces will make the room appear much larger even though more computers have been added. I continue the theme of inclusion by connecting the space to the rest of the ground floor.
The atrium will truly be a place for all students to convene without interrupting quiet study. The stadium seating will act as a meeting point for students and minimize sound reaching the group study behind. The structure will also house carts for collecting books and storage for extra tables if needed.
I wanted to create something truly unique for the atrium area on the ground floor. One of the remaining redeeming features of the building is the large skylight allowing natural light into all three floors. I have created small reading nooks to hang from the first and second floor to draw the eye up and break up the wall of glass. Cloud shaped pendants will hang from the ceiling at various levels to create a tranquil vibe and also act as a sound absorber from the louder floors. On the floor itself, I will replace the tables with a modular seating arrangement that can be moved to create a truly flexible space for academic events. This seating will provide an area for eating as users of the cafĂŠ downstairs usually overflow up to the floor above. The central seating will also act as a meeting point for students waiting for friends or study groups.
I have created a more prominent group study area featuring more casual seating for larger groups. The area is designed for longer stays and students who wish for a more comfortable place to revise for exams or simply socialise. Behind the new elevation design, I plan to incorporate an artificial fire and large TVs above it to display the University social feed. This area will hopefully keep the desks with power sockets and computers free from those who aren’t using them. The design will also strengthen the lodge theme with oak paneling and stacked fire wood.
I wanted to incorporate a casual area for those students who require a break from studying and who may not want to leave the library. I have included two corner sofas to allow students just to sit and recover from the stresses of study and sit by the fire with a book or a friend. They may want to bring a coffee up from the cafĂŠ below and watch the University feed on the screens for motivation.
Acoustic Solutions
Cone of Silence Thinking.info The Cone of Silence is made from PET Acoustic panels, with a timber frame. Joinery can be powdercoated in complementary colours. The cone is suspended from the ceiling and creates an area for people to take phone calls or have conversations.
Jabra Noise Guide Get instant visual feedback when noise levels exceed a set limit. The Instant Feedback Technology will make the unit turn red, yellow or green to make people aware of the current noise level. This encourages everyone to reduce the noise, creating a better working environment.
BuzziZepp LED Line BuzziZepp LED Line hovers from above to define zones without obstruction, establishing a more intimate, quiet and purposeful sense of space—no vertical partitions or walls needed! The slim framework is made of upholstered acoustic panels, engineered to absorb sound and reduce echo. The streamlined design is outfitted with dimmable LED lines, which can be adjusted for various situations.