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Report of the Council on a fourth phase of the Stage III extension to the University Library

The COUNCIL beg leave to report to the University as follows :

1. The Council reported to the University in July 1995 (Reporter, 1994-95, p. 1063), in January 1996 (Reporter, 1995-96, p. 365), and in February 1998 (Reporter, 1997-98, p. 361) on proposals for the first three phases of the Stage III extension to the University Library. The first of the phases was the construction of the Aoi Pavilion named in recognition of a generous benefaction from Mr Tadao Aoi. The second phase was a westward extension at basement level of the bookstacks of the 1971 building, and the third phase is the north-west corner extension which will house the Photography Department and reading rooms for Rare Books and Manuscripts. Phases one and two were completed in 1998. Phase three is presently being constructed and is due for completion in September 2001.

2. In July 1999 a private donation of £6m was pledged by a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous. Following this generous benefaction, the Library Syndicate have now proposed a fourth phase of the Stage III extension, which will extend the south-west corner of the Library building, as shown in the accompanying drawing. This entails incorporating part of the 1971 building into a new wing extending from the original Gilbert Scott building and covering part of the westward extension of the bookstacks referred to above. This proposed development is in line with the decision made in 1993 by the General Board and the Library Syndicate that all further extensions should be in the style of the 1934 building. The proposed extension has, like all other phases of Stage III, been designed by the Harry Faulkner-Brown Howe Partnership.

3. The proposed south-west corner extension will be a visual mirror image of the third phase north-west corner extension but with a different internal layout. The accommodation will include additional offices, storage space, and reading rooms, which are all required to rectify present inadequate accommodation and to meet the growing demands from the Library's users.

4. A Planning and Listed Building Application was submitted in November 1999. The application is not considered to be controversial or contentious as the external appearance of the proposed building is identical to that of the north-west corner project, which received planning approval in 1998.

5. A two-stage tendering strategy is being adopted for this phase. R. G. Carter who are presently undertaking the north-west corner project have been selected as preferred contractor after the first stage tenders. It is proposed, subject to satisfactory tenders, to commence construction in June 2000 with completion anticipated in December 2002. The Library staff currently occupying the existing south-west corner will be temporarily housed elsewhere in the Library or in temporary accommodation, the location of which is currently being identified. The temporary reading room for Manuscripts and Rare Books will remain in its current location until completion of the new reading rooms for these materials in the north-west corner in summer 2001. The reading rooms for Official Publications and microfilms will also remain in their present locations in the south-west corner of the building until that date; from summer 2001 until completion of the south-west corner in December 2002, the services to readers of these materials will be provided from alternative locations. These arrangements will not affect the availability of materials to readers.

6. The total project cost is presently estimated at £6.18m. The design team will carry out a value engineering exercise to bring the total project cost to within the £6m budget.

7. The running costs of the proposed extension are expected to be in the region of £125,000 a year, which will be an additional cost to the Chest.

8. Plans and elevations of the proposed extension are displayed for the information of the University in the Schools Arcade.

9. The Council recommend:

I. That approval be given for the construction of an extension to the University Library, as described in this Report.

II. That the Treasurer be authorized to accept a tender for the works, within available funding.

31 January 2000

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Cambridge University Reporter, 2 February 2000
Copyright © 2000 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.