Library extension up for Concrete Society Award

The impressive GBP8 million library extension has been short listed for the prestigious national Concrete Society Award for excellence in the use of concrete.

The impressive GBP8 million library extension has been short listed for the prestigious national Concrete Society Award for excellence in the use of concrete.

The University of Plymouth's new library extension was visited by judges from the Concrete Society - the same day the university hosted members of David Mackay's Plymouth Design Panel.

The impressive GBP8 million library extension has been short listed for the prestigious national Concrete Society Award for excellence in the use of concrete.

Judges will tour the building before making their final decision.

Penny Holland, Acting Director of Information and Learning Services, said: "The numbers of students studying in the new library has increased by 25% since it opened which illustrates how students are thinking with their feet on the quality of those facilities.

"We built the library extension for the students and a lot of thought was put into designing a modern, flexible study space, suitable for all types of study.

It is gratifying to know we have been so successful in getting this right - and the Concrete Society Award nomination is just one example of the recognition the new building deserves".

Steven Parissien, the university's Dean of Arts, published architectural author and member of the Plymouth Design Panel said: "The Concrete Society's shortlisting brings international recognition to one of the finest recent additions to our campus.

The building looks good, works well and has proved remarkably cost-effective - and now has been rightly judged a beacon of excellence for modern construction.

By 2010 we hope that most of the university's built environment will reflect these inspiring standards." Andre Evans, local director of structural consultants Scott Wilson, who worked on the library, said: "Concrete was the ideal medium for this building for a number of reasons and clearly this has been recognised by the Concrete Society nationally.

As a former chairman of the Concrete Society for Devon and Cornwall, I would say that it would be quite a feather in our cap if we could win this award." Members of the Plymouth Design Panel will also be on campus today to discuss the university's proposals for the Strategic Development Plan, which is being developed by Nicholas Burwell - who is also the architect who designed the library extension.

The Strategic Development Plan, a University of Plymouth initiative, is an attempt to create a development framework that will provide the context for a vibrant area, break down barriers between the university and the city centre, provide better campus streets and public spaces, put pedestrians first, contribute to the Cultural Quarter on North Hill, create quality buildings and help create a distinctive skyline for Plymouth.

These two events are indicative of all the positive developments going on around both the university campus and the city.

The Concrete Society Awards result s will be announced in November at the Society Awards Dinner.

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