July 7 2023

Glasgow University's Library annexe is to undergo a full reclad as part of a modernisation drive that saw the main tower similarly updated by Nimmo & Partners in 2012.

Dating from the 1980s the nine-storey section is finished in 'concrete effect' glass-reinforced plastic, to be replaced by horizontal curtain walling and vertical aluminium rain-screen to stair cores HLM Architects propose to strip the annexe down to its concrete frame to achieve this, a process which should improve thermal performance, increase daylight through more windows and tie in better with the main tower.

In a project overview, the architects wrote: "In developing a re-cladding solution the starting point has been to retain as much of the original form of the Library Annex building as possible. With this in mind, the proposals seek to maintain the strong contrast between the horizontal emphasis of the library spaces versus the verticality of the circulation/plant cores of the original design.

"By maintaining this prominent relationship between the two elements, the proposals will be seen as an honest and contemporary approach to resolving the technical shortcomings of the building, retaining so far as possible the architectural principles and appearance originally intended."

Sedum roofs to intermediate levels are to be introduced, adding to the cascading presence of the northern annexe. 

4 Comments

#1 Posted by Robby_ on 7 Jul 2023 at 20:43 PM

Still looks rubbish
Mind you if the University of Glasgow procurement team have anything to do with this it will look even worse in reality.
Amateurs.

#2 Posted by Roddy_ on 7 Jul 2023 at 22:50 PM

The re-clad of Boyd-Orr has been one of the success stories of recent GU estate upgrades. Managing to retain the qualities of the original Brutalist form, whilst softening some of its excesses (ie raw concrete in a West of Scotland climate). Let's hope for similar here.

#3 Posted by Ghost on 8 Jul 2023 at 11:48 AM

Somehow they’ve managed to make the building look worse with their intervention.

#4 Posted by Lovely on 8 Jul 2023 at 14:47 PM

Which is the before and which is the after?

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