The New Library, Magdalene College

Cambridge, United Kingdom, Europe

Completed · Education · University Library · Temperate · 2021

A college library designed for a 400-year lifespan, combining load-bearing brickwork with an engineered-timber structure. Brick piers extend above the roof as chimneys that drive passive stack ventilation. It won the 2022 RIBA Stirling Prize, the first college building to do so.

Innovation highlights

• 400-year design life brief
• Load-bearing brick plus engineered-timber hybrid structure
• Passive stack ventilation through brick chimney piers
• Low embodied carbon and minimal in-use energy

Innovations in the catalogue

• Passive Stack Ventilation via Chimney Piers
• Load-Bearing Brick and Engineered-Timber Hybrid
• Design for Multi-Century Lifespan

Client / Developer

Magdalene College, University of Cambridge

Architect

Níall McLaughlin Architects

Engineer

Smith and Wallwork (structure)

Type

University library

#library #passive ventilation #timber #load-bearing brick #longevity

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