About the Client
London South Bank University (LSBU) is a public university based in Elephant and Castle, London, within the London Borough of Southwark. It gets its name from its location, on the South Bank of the River Thames. The university was founded in 1892 as the Borough Polytechnic Institute, its latest name change came in 2003.
LSBU’s London Road Building has been a prominent feature within the Elephant and Castle since 1976. Completed in 2022, the university enlisted architects Wilkinson Eyre to take the building, renovate its tired structure and bring it into the 21st century. Called ‘The Hub’ the new facility includes newly created library space, lecture theatres, fitness facilities, teaching rooms, informal learning spaces, and catering amenities,
LSBU’s decision to remodel rather than re-build the hub building was a practical one. The campus is in a tight area with little room and therefore a new-build would quickly become impractical. Also, re-purposing it was a green decision. saving on embodied carbon in the existing concrete structure.
The Requirement
Part of the remodeling was the creation of an impressive library, designed to be an open plan, inviting space for students to study in peace. When it came to the library shelving the architects turned to Rackline based on their requirements, and the extensive expertise and reputation of the Rackline team.
The Solution
Working closely with the architects, Rackline proposed its Pro-Libero library shelving solution in varying sizes in both static and mobile configurations across the two floors of the library space.
Pro-Libero library shelving boasts concealed fixings within its strong, structural double skin uprights. Further, Pro-Libero Library shelving can be specified as solid backed, braced, or ‘Braceless’, with back to back bays having no bracing or solid backs for support. In this case the architects opted for minimum bracing to provide more strength.
The shelving was intended to be timber clad to add to the natural look of the space. The double skinned structure of the pro-libero system made it ideal for this purpose, with fixings kept out of view, and away from valuable publications.
In total Rackline provided 5770 linear metres of its Pro-Libero static shelving and 342metres on its monotrak bases. The combination of the Pro-libro library shelves and timber gives massive capacity to the library while providing easy access to publications from either side of the shelves. Its minimal bracing also ensures light can still permeate through, keeping even tight spaces illuminated.
If you are looking for the best library shelving, or you are looking for any other storage for your premises, then get in touch. Our teams can help you to plan your space, and maximise its potential through the installation of tailored shelving and storage solutions.