Main Library, University Of Edinburgh, 30 George Square

Main Library, University of Edinburgh, George Square

An 8-storey university library designed by Sir Basil Spence, Glover and Ferguson between 1965 and 1967, graded A. John Hardie Glover was the partner in charge, with J M Marshall as project architect and Andrew Merrylees as job architect. Ove Arup & Partners acted as structural consultants, and Gilbert Ash was the main contractor. The building is constructed of reinforced concrete on a 27-foot grid.

The library is a rectangular-plan structure in mannered late Modernist style, mounted on a stepped podium. The ground level falls to the rear, revealing a basement storey on the Buccleuch Place elevation. The design is horizontally articulated by 4 balconies serving as sun-screens, wrapped around the entire structure. These balconies are fronted with concrete panels and Portland stone veneer, supported on cubic blocks with bands of glazing recessed behind them. A parapet is cantilevered over the top balcony. Black polished granite cladding covers the 2 lower storeys on the front elevation and part of the side elevations. Smooth concrete rectangular structural columns rise through the facade. Riven York stone faces the basement storey and the retaining wall of the podium. Window and doorframes are of silver anodised aluminium.

The north elevation features a double-height portico with rectangular columns bisected by horizontal members running the entire length of the building. A concrete beamed fascia attached to the front of the columns separates the entrance from the mezzanine level. The off-centre main entrance comprises a 2-storey screen of plate glass doors at each end. To the left of the entrance are a pair of deeply inset narrow slit windows at ground and first floor levels. To the right is a row of inset slit windows followed by storey-high plate glass at ground and first floors. The podium projects to the right, accommodating a ramp and small flight of stairs, topped by planting troughs.

The east, south and west elevations display vertical and horizontal concrete panels expressing structural bays with 6-paned, full-height windows at ground and first floors, complemented by narrow vertical slit windows. A service entrance and loading bay with metal roller shutters and hardwood door are located to the south (rear).

The interior contains a double-height concourse with gallery and mezzanine accommodating the book service area. Other rooms and offices, including an exhibition room, are arranged around the concourse with stairs rising to the first floor mezzanine and second floor. The upper part of the foyer and exhibition room occupy much of the first floor, with the remainder planned as reading rooms and staff offices. Book stack areas occupy the second, third and fourth floors, arranged around a circulation core containing a staircase and 3 lifts. Additional staircases at the east and west ends of the building provide access to lavatories on each floor. Tank rooms and storage space occupy the sixth floor. The basement contains technical space including a bindery, strong room, stores, filtration plant and loading bay.

Interior finishes include teak to concourse walls, stair handrails and selected spaces. Extensive fire-screens of timber slats and wired glass are employed throughout. White beech doors and other linings are used in conjunction with plaster surfaces. The foyer is paved with quartzite slabs and the exhibition room with polished granite. Supporting columns are either of exposed polished concrete or plastered. Bookshelves are of black steel, while flexible partitions to the upper storeys are wooden panels mounted on black steel uprights.