New library building

Artist's impressions of the new library at Luton campus (The Business School is in the foreground, above). Images courtesy of Moses Cameron Williams Architects.

The University is investing £46m in a new state-of-the-art library at the Luton campus

Construction began in January 2014 and is due to be completed in Summer 2015 for the start of the 2015-16 academic year.

The University announced in January 2014 that Willmott Dixon is the main building contractor for the project.

During the new library’s construction, the University’s current library and Learning Resources Centre (LRC) will continue to be fully operational, serving students 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The current LRC at Luton underwent an extensive refurbishment programme in Summer 2013 worth more than £350,000.

What will be in the library building?

The building will be the home for the University's library and learning resources centre. The building is proposed to include:

• 7,400 sq metres of space over 7 storeys
• state-of-the-art IT and AV equipment
• bridge link to the Business School
• 30 per cent increase in book stocks
• 30 per cent increase in study spaces
• quiet study areas
• cafeteria

Q&A

Why is the University building a new library at Luton campus?

Between 2006-2013, £90m had been invested in facilities and new buildings at the Luton campus including the opening of:

• Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development Centre, in February 2013
• 860 room Fitzroy Court student halls of residence, in August 2011 and Wenlock Court in August 2012
• Campus Centre, in October 2010

The brief given to our designers by the University working together with the Students' Union:

• Space for extra books and more study spaces
• A safe and secure environment for users
• Compatible with the local townscape
• Flexible - to meet changing needs of the business
• Longevity - utility and aesthetic appear beyond today's 'fashion'
• Sustainable: have regard to building lifetime costs and environmental impact
• Provide a range of environments through design of form and texture, to suit the differing requirements of learners
• Improving the student experience through high quality, without excessive cost
• A warm and friendly atmosphere being especially welcoming at entrances
• A visible and easy-to-find main entrance
• Develops a sense of community
• Noise-reducing surfaces to reduce noise
• Inspiring for our students
• Low maintenance costs

How environmentally-friendly will the building be?

The project team is currently aiming towards a BREEAM rating of ‘excellent’ and is fully committed to designing the most energy efficient building and services to meet the University’s needs. The building includes a number of sustainable and low carbon technologies to minimise impact on the environment.

The BREEAM family of assessment methods and tools are all designed to help construction professionals understand and mitigate the environmental impacts of the developments they design and build.

How is the University managing risks within the project?

The University has developed a project risk register which lists and categorises all risks to the project using a traffic-light system. Reviews of the register are undertaken regularly and key risks are presented to the Project Board for action.

The project team are committed to minimising construction work during key university periods as exams and graduations and will work to ensure that noise is kept to a minimum.

How can the University afford it?

The University’s turnover has grown from £81m to £130m over the past three years, owing to successful student recruitment and sound financial management.

What does the project mean for local businesses, employers and the wider community?

The new building forms an exciting part of the range of major construction projects in Luton set to renew and refresh the appearance of the town.

Any other questions?

If there is anything else you’d like to know about the project, please submit your feedback and questions here. We will post replies on this site as well as responding to you directly.

This page will be regularly updated as the project progresses.