The University of Birmingham Library
Location:
Birmingham
Internal Signage and Wayfinding, Design, Consultancy & Management, External Architectural Signage, Environmental Graphics, Statutory Signage
Services:
The University of Birmingham’s new state-of-the-art Library provides outstanding facilities for a new generation of students, researchers, and visitors.
The University of Birmingham commissioned a new state-of-the-art library facility, as part of a £300M investment in the Edgbaston Campus. The library provides outstanding facilities for a new generation of students, researchers and visitors. The 17,000m2 of floor space is split over six levels, around a large central atrium, with 62km of shelving filled with thousands of books.
Cobal collaborated with Associated Architects to design contemporary wayfinding signage, that compliments the impressive new facility. The outcome is a clear, simplistic and considered wayfinding scheme, that communicates an inspiring identity.
Concept
The draft design concept provided to Cobal stressed that the signage should be very much in keeping with the contemporary design and quality of the rest of the building. It was also to be clear, effective and simple to follow. Furthermore, it needed to be readily adaptable to facilitate the changes that would undoubtedly be required in the future.
One of the main prerequisites was that the signage should be able to maintain its ‘day one’ appearance, given that it was to be located in a fast paced and constantly changing university environment.
Challenge
A below-ground reserve store houses over 1.5 million items, allowing Library users to access materials from a single location. A key requirement was to combine signage that rarely changes with that which is subject to regular change. A prime example in this case was the library shelf-end signage. Here, permanent information was to be printed onto the reverse of clear acrylic to protect the graphics and the changeable data would be applied by the client.
Conquering the impossible
This distinctive project required the supply and installation of a large coat of arms motif, fixed in a prominent position at the top of the atrium. Artwork for this only existed at roof level in the old library, which was soon to be raised to the ground.
Despite access to this being impossible, the Cobal design team devised a plan utilising photography, software and meticulous attention to detail, enabling us to recreate the artwork that could be used in manufacturing.
Outcome
Cobal devised and supplied editable templates and the two elements were combined in a simple elegant acrylic holder. This solution delivered a combination of two very different sign groups that was not only practical but provided an aesthetic look and feel that was consistent and coordinated.