Medical School and Barnes Library

The College of Medical and Dental Sciences at the University of Birmingham is a major international centre for research and education in medicine, medical sciences, dentistry nursing and physiotherapy. The Barnes Library occupies four floors in the central block of the Medical School. Glancy Nicholls Architects were appointed to design the refurbishment of the building.

The scheme’s brief was to renovate the Medical School Entrance foyer and the ground floor of the Barnes Library to improve student services and library facilities, including the library short loan collection, together with creating a contemporary and welcoming entrance.

One of the challenges with the Medical School was that the four floors that Barnes Library occupied needed to remain in constant use. To undertake this, we devised a comprehensive site plan in conjunction with the University, the main contractor, and the CDM coordinator. This identified the areas that students could access during the project. Once work commenced on site, the use of signage and boarding was essential in maintaining clear demarcation of no-access zones. These were regularly updated as the scheme progressed. In addition, noisy works were planned around the teaching timetable so as not to disturb lectures or exams.

The refurbished facility now provides a modern learning area which has maximised the effectiveness of the facilities provided; transforming the area into a light, efficient space with a contemporary style that aids wayfinding.