Plans for £57m Aberdeen library unveiled
University chief says project will help city
Published:
IMAGES released today show the futuristic design of a multi-million new city building.
Aberdeen University unveiled the drawings of its £57 million library will look.
The building marks a new chapter in the university’s history – and another step towards the reshaping of Aberdeen.
Several major hotel and office developments are under way in the city, with the first drawings of a £6 million casino being built in Shiprow also revealed today.
University boss Professor C Duncan Rice said everyone stood to benefit from the new library.
The Principal and Vice-Chancellor said: “This exciting new building will add significantly to the cultural strength of our region, reinforce Scotland’s reputation for high quality education and research, and attract not only students and academics but also professionals of the quality needed to serve northern business.”
The library is the flagship part of the next phase of the university’s £230 million redevelopment.
As well as housing study documents for 14,000 students, the building will also hold the priceless collections and archives.
Professor Rice predicts it will be a “cultural landmark”.
The library – designed by Danish architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen – will replace the Queen Mother Library in Bedford Road.
And is hoped the project will be completed in time for the start of the academic year in summer 2011.
The university has launched a fundraising campaign.
The latest donation – believed to be several hundred thousand pounds – comes from oil and gas operator Petro-Canada.
In June, Talisman Energy (UK) pumped £125,000 into the groundbreaking project.
Professor Rice thanked Petro-Canada for the new donation, adding that he hoped others would follow.
He said: “We thank Petro-Canada for their generous support of our vision.
“This builds on our growing partnership, and is a significant boost for our plans for the new library.
“Petro-Canada are making a major contribution to quality of life in Aberdeen.”
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