Roehampton's state-of-the-art library and halls honoured by RIBA with national architecture award

Thursday, June 21, 2018

The new Library building and Chadwick Hall were acclaimed for successfully blending contemporary architecture alongside existing buildings in neoclassical, Georgian and Modernist styles.

Image - Roehampton's state-of-the-art library and halls honoured by RIBA with national architecture award

Following success at the RIBA London Awards, two of the University of Roehampton's newest buildings have also been awarded recipients of this year's RIBA National Award Winners.

The new library has been operating since September 2017 and was officially opened in April with Roehampton Chancellor Professor Dame Jacqueline Wilson conducting the ceremony. Also attending the ceremony were the designers, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, and Osbornes, the firm responsible for construction. The library's large, internal staircase was singled out for particular praise by the RIBA panel, who described it simply as ‘a joy’.

With views across London, the library contains a variety of study areas for individuals and groups. Its collection includes hundreds of thousands of books across 8,000 metres of shelving, alongside hundreds of IT stations.

Chadwick Hall is set in the grounds of the Georgian grade II* listed Downshire House and is a recent addition to Roehampton's student accommodation, comprising three buildings with a total of 210 en suite bathrooms. With a design by Henley Halebrown that takes in both Downshire House and the Modernist Alton Estate (also grade II* listed), RIBA described the new halls as ‘timeless’ and noted the creation of ‘a welcoming and calm space’ where students can live, relax and socialise.

Gilly King, Roehampton's History and Heritage Adviser, said, ‘With its collection of Grade I and II listed buildings, Roehampton is no stranger to world-class architecture. It is a real honour to have our newest buildings recognised alongside our unique history’.

Susan Scorey, Chief Librarian, said, ‘Libraries today are more than just about borrowing books. They are a comfortable and aspirational place to study, with multiple online and printed resources. We've worked hard to create a library which is a motivating and inspiring place to study, with plenty space and natural light’.

Having won awards at both the regional and national levels, both buildings are eligible to be shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize. The shortlist will be announced on Thursday, 19 July, while the winner will be revealed at a ceremony on Wednesday, 10 October.

Set in acres of parkland and with a variety of unique architecture from the Georgian era onwards, the University of Roehampton is London's only campus-based university. In addition to regular open days and weekly campus tours, you can book a self-guided tour at a time convenient to you to explore our unique colleges.