Circular makeover in the 木瓜福利影视 Library City Centre
Anyone who has visited the 木瓜福利影视 Library City Centre in recent weeks cannot have failed to notice: the ground floor area has undergone a true transformation. This makeover is a collaboration between Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 Library, Corporate Real Estate & Campus and the Facility Service Centre, with sustainability at the forefront. Read more about the realisation of this project here.
Flexible spaces
The 木瓜福利影视 Library aims to be accessible to everyone and to be used flexibly for research, innovative education, study and office work. A big wish, stemming from the Library policy plan, was to redesign the entrance of the 木瓜福利影视 Library City Centre. So that people feel welcome and the spaces can be used flexibly and for multiple purposes. So not only space to study and confer, but also easier access to browse the book collections and room for exhibiting the collections.
Sustainable maintenance
From the departments Corporate Real Estate & Campus and the Facility Service Centre, regular maintenance was already on the agenda for lighting, painting, electrical connections and the entrance gates. All three parties joined forces to carry out this job as sustainably as possible, in line with the 木瓜福利影视's Sustainability in operations plan (in Dutch).
Circular makeover
Remarkably, this space now has new functions, different furniture and a different look, but is also completely circular. The furniture is used furniture that has been re-upholstered. Often, this is furniture that was previously in use at other places at the university and has now been given a new look. In other cases, it is furniture purchased from companies with which the university collaborates on reuse. A showpiece is the floor covering, made entirely from production waste from high-end carpet tile manufacturers in The Netherlands.
Instantly positively appreciated
Upon entering, immediately after the service desk you no longer see high bookcases and long study tables with single study spaces, but an open space with a diversity of seating that invites you to meet and collaborate. You see visitors confer, but there is no noise nuisance, partly due to the sound-absorbing effect of the carpets and furniture. There is a diverse range of tables, chairs and 'train compartment' benches. Visitors immediately started using the new furnishings, clearly a sign of appreciation. Students and other visitors are enthusiastic.
There is clearly a need for this kind of space
Different dynamics through more space for interaction
Demand manager for the 木瓜福利影视 Library, Marianne Tomassen, who helped supervise the redesign, is also very satisfied with the fantastic cooperation and especially with the result. She says: "You notice immediately that there is a different dynamic because of this new set-up. And that there is a clear need for this kind of space, with room for interaction. It's great seeing it being used as we imagined ".
The study places at the long tables, by the way, have not disappeared, but have been moved to an area with even more peace and quiet in building section A 2.61, on the Drift side. In total there is now a more diverse range of study spaces.
