John Paul II Library
National University of Ireland Maynooth
Co. Kildare
Project Details
Client: NUI Maynooth
Architect: Scott Tallon Walker
Value: €20.0M
Services Provided: C&S Engineering Services
Awards: ACEI 2013 President’s Award for Innovation
Category: Education
Project Duration: 2009 – 2014
Project Description
The redevelopment of John Paul II Library on Maynooth south campus delivers a 10,000m2 state of the art library facility including a 6,000m2 extension to the existing building. Increased library capacity enhances campus infrastructure, necessary to promote strategic growth, matching the goals and aspirations of the growing college.
The new library building is a three storey building with plant rooms at roof level. The external façade consists of two glazing façades designed with natural ventilation and a high surface finish. In-between these glazing façades are timber louvers and an access walkway at floor level. The louvers can rotate to reduce solar glare and heating of the internal space. A light well atrium running down the central spine ties the building together as a coherent and purposeful internal space.
An atrium space connects the new and existing library buildings.
The structure consists of precast coffer slabs at each suspended floor level supported on a precast and in-situ frame. The precast columns supporting the structure are at a grid of 6.5m c/c. The precast structure was fabricated using steel moulds. The quality of finish achieved and uniformity of details are both simplistic and elegant in appearance. The alignment and sharpness of the joints in the soffit of the slab indicate the high tolerance levels and fabrication achieved.
Linking the north and south campus through roadworks on the Kilcock Road improves campus wide infrastructure.