Library and Learning Resource Facility, Mary Immaculate College (MIC)

Mary Immaculate College (MIC) appointed STW as Single Point Design Team Lead in 2015/2016 to design a new 5,000sqm Library and Learning Resource Facility to replace the existing campus library. Working closely with MIC staff, stakeholders, and students, STW have developed a design that not only delivers a modern, future‑focused learning environment but also enhances the wider campus experience.

Project Background

A key element of the proposal is the transformation of the open space between the existing Tara Building and the new Library. This area will be reimagined as a formal raised plaza, creating an inviting civic setting for the Library, alongside a new paved ‘College Walk’ promenade that will integrate seamlessly with future circulation routes identified in MIC’s Masterplan.

Since the initial appointment, the project has progressed through several design refinements to respond to evolving campus needs and aspirations. With these updates now complete, the project is advancing into the on‑site construction phase — marking an exciting new chapter in the development of MIC’s campus.

Students and End-Users Informing the Design

The post‑Covid teaching environment has reshaped expectations around how students use and experience learning spaces. During engagement sessions with the student body, many highlighted the importance of environments that feel welcoming, intuitive, and easy to navigate — particularly when transitioning from busy campus life into focused study settings. These insights informed a key aspect of the design: creating a gentle, seamless progression into the new Library that supports comfort, autonomy, and choice.

To achieve this, the design intentionally softens the traditional building threshold. A sequence of interconnected spaces guides users from the wider campus into the learning environment at their own pace, allowing them to pause, observe, engage, or move forward as they feel ready.

Each stage of this sequence is crafted to reduce perceived barriers and support a sense of ease:

• Sense of Place: The new Library and its Plaza occupy a central, familiar position at the heart of the campus. This prominent location reinforces identity, strengthens community, and establishes a welcoming focal point for students and staff.

• Under the Canopy: The architectural form enhances the approach experience. The under‑croft created by the Library’s first floor offers a sheltered, informal zone where users can gather, socialise, rest, or simply watch campus life unfold. This transitional space provides a natural pause point, easing the shift from outdoor activity into the Library and subtly blurring the threshold.

Variety and Adaptability of Spaces

A central priority in the development of the new Library was the need for highly flexible, future proofed spaces. This was strongly reinforced by the Head Librarian and library staff, whose experience working within a building with limited adaptability highlighted the importance of creating environments that can evolve with changing teaching and learning needs. During intensive consultaion, the students echoed this, expressing a desire for a broad spectrum of study settings — from bright, open areas to focused, silent zones — along with informal spaces they could define and use in their own way.

In response, the new Library provides a rich variety of learning and study environments distributed across the building, including:

• Multimedia: The basement level incorporates a multi purpose studio and recording space where students can produce performances, podcasts, and digital content in a controlled setting. This is supported by dedicated editing suites for the Media Studies faculty, as well as a learning resource area that facilitates preparation for learning beyond the classroom.
• HyFlex Teaching & Meeting Rooms: These spaces support a mode of learning that allows students to choose how and when they participate — in person or remotely — offering greater flexibility and accessibility.
• Mix of Rooms for Remote Learning & Collaboration: The first floor is designed for group and collaborative study. Additional acoustically isolated study pods are incorporated at first and second floor levels, providing further opportunities for remote learning, quiet focus, or small group work.