Mace Group

Information

This project is comprised of the construction of a new purpose built depository for Oxford University to house books and maps in an environmentally controlled condition offering a four hour fire rated envelope excluding the roof. The facilities will also comprise of an ancillary block which controls the document distribution, external works and landscaping.

The brief was to provide storage for books and maps for the next 100 years, in an environmentally stable condition, with the added protection of a four hour fire rated envelope to protect the spread of fire from outside to inside. In addition the books and maps would be further protected by four levels of sprinklers within the storage racking.

The design also allows for future expansion facilitated by designing knock out panels within the main precast units such that additional space can be provided by extending the north end of the building and then knocking through without affecting the existing storage space. The document distribution is managed from the ancillary block with the documents being selected from a semi-automated picking system.