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RMIT SWANSTON LIBRARY

RMIT SWANSTON LIBRARY

This project is the first stage in a program initiated by RMIT University to progressively update its library facilities.  The project had a limited budget but a large ambition to create a much more student and learning friendly environment, and to better support contemporary requirements for access to computers.

This kind of project is becoming common in learning institutions.  The development of on-line resources might have been expected to result in a diminishing demand for libraries.  Instead, the change in learning and research culture brought about by the internet has been paralleled by trends towards collaborative approaches to learning, reflected in new pedagogies.  Students need more spaces with access to computer resources, for both discussion, group work and quiet individual learning. In a densely developed campus such as at RMIT University’s city complex, these kinds of space are at a premium.

Demaine initiated layout changes to the Central Library to create a more transparent and open library space, creating vistas to windows at the perimeter of the building.  A large lounge area fronting a display for new acquisitions was formed at the entry to the library, fronted by full height glazing.  Where originally there was a solid wall with dusty display boxes, now students can see straight into the library, observing students studying and interacting in comfortable lounge chairs and around elliptical group tables.  Facing this entry are 3 large plasma screens, with ever changing displays advertising activities both within the library and across the campus.

The entry area prior to renovation

The entry area after renovation

The need for better support for technology was tackled as a research project.  We reviewed systems adopted for ‘information commons’ and identified a tendency for these systems to impose a rigid and monovalent study culture.  The large desk structures were not readily adaptable to changing requirements, and a lack of diversity in desk types made collaborative work difficult.

Typical Computer Workstations prior to renovation

Jelybean desks and the 'kit of parts', including flexible lighting system, screens, chairs, desks and power and data reticulation

To overcome these problems, we experimented with breaking down the elements of the information commons into a kit of parts, addressing work surface, lighting, data cabling, power supply, PC and monitor support, privacy screens and chairs.  Each of these elements is intended to be capable of being disconnected and rearranged, with even light fittings being clipped into a track and able to move to optimize lighting conditions as the work areas below were adapted and changed.

The base workstation was developed as a single user ‘jellybean’ desk, which are clipped together in clusters around a relocatable power pole.  This pole in turn attaches to the lighting track, which doubles as a conduit for data and power cabling.  Poles can be relocated using simple tools and the clusters moved in an infinite number of combinations.  The basic desk module is large enough for two persons work and discuss around a computer.  The complementary oval group tables were designed to be able to be pushed up to the jellybeans to create a group work environment with line of sight to a shared computer screen for a number of students.  Small ‘roving tables’ were intended to be used as required to give extra layout space at a jellybean.

The overall layout was further refined with the creation of acoustically screened areas containing jellybeans arranged to encourage quiet individual work.

The project was subject to analysis both during a prototyping stage, and later with post occupancy evaluations.  Utilization of the library increased by 40% from an already high base.  The culture and feel of the library has improved to such an extent that the library administration is now concerned to ensure that this cultural shift is maintained as they move towards a much more comprehensive reconfiguration of the building.  In the meantime, the lessons learnt from this project are now informing new design solutions and a second generation of jellybean style work areas with improved data and power management systems.