We are very pleased to welcome you to this event today.

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Mervin Phelps
5 years ago
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1 Welcome 1 We are very pleased to welcome you to this event today. The University is inviting you to view proposals for a new goods lift to serve the existing basement beneath the Radcliffe Science Library (RSL) courtyard. The RSL is the main teaching and research science library at the University of Oxford and is a Grade II Listed Building. The library is located in the buildings to the south of the Museum of Natural History on Parks Road. There are two basement levels under the library courtyard. Following the successful completion of the Weston Library (formerly the New Bodleian Library) and the Swindon Book Depositary a large proportion of the RSL basement books stack has become available for repurposing. The vacant space (in the second basement) provides an opportunity for the University to consolidate a large part of its museum artefact storage to a single central location within close proximity to all four University museums. The storage of artefacts, being more varied in size than books, has highlighted an issue with the current access to the basement areas. The provision of a goods lift and its location have been carefully considered given the sensitive, historic nature of the immediate surroundings. Specialist heritage consultants, Purcell, have carried out appropriate assessments of the development and design of the proposed lift in discussion with Oxford City Council and Historic England. This exhibition outlines the approach the University would like to take in creating the new goods lift. This event will show you: The site area and location; The history of the site; The proposed development, its possible location and appearance; and Our timelines. We are inviting you to view the proposals and talk with members of the team who are available to answer any queries you might have. Following this consultation, the University is intending to submit applications for Planning and Listed Building Consent for the goods lift. There is a feedback form which we would be grateful if you would complete and submit to us either in hard copy to: RSL Feedback, Estates Services, The Malthouse, Tidmarsh Lane, Oxford, OX1 1NQ; or online at public.consultation@admin.ox.ac.uk by 22 July Thank you for attending. Radcliffe Science Library Front Entrance

The site and Proposal 2 The Radcliffe Science Library is situated in an historic setting with an open courtyard facing Parks Road. The RSL is located on the corner of Parks Road and South Parks Road.

The RSL forms part of the Science Area of Oxford where it receives many visitors from nearby research and teaching buildings and colleges.

In 1970 a two storey basement was constructed for book storage and became known as Lankester s Basement.

2 The site and Proposal 2 The Radcliffe Science Library is situated in an historic setting with an open courtyard facing Parks Road. The RSL is located on the corner of Parks Road and South Parks Road. The library sits among the Museum of Natural History and Abbott s Kitchen. The RSL forms part of the Science Area of Oxford where it receives many visitors from nearby research and teaching buildings and colleges. The library was constructed in several phases to house scientific books transferred from the nearby Radcliffe Camera. In 1970 a two storey basement was constructed for book storage and became known as Lankester s Basement. The basement extends under approximately half of the courtyard in front of the Museum of Natural History storeys creating a space equivalent to about three and a half football pitches. the two The planning application and listed building consent to which this consultation relates is for a new goods lift directly into the basement. This will allow the basement to be repurposed for storage for the four University museums; the Ashmolean Museum, the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of the History of Science and the Pitt Rivers Museum. Additionally, it will provide disabled access into the basement area.

The history of the site The Radcliffe Science Library has been constructed

Phase 1 1898-1901 The Radcliffe Science Library was constructed to designs

All the scientific books in the neighbouring University Museum were

The original readers entrance at this time was adjacent to the Abbot s

Phase 2 1933-34 The Library was rapidly running out of space and was

building. The architect was Hubert Worthington.

put forward and the basement extension agreed.

3 The history of the site The Radcliffe Science Library has been constructed in three phases covering almost 80 years. Phase The Radcliffe Science Library was constructed to designs by T. G. Jackson facing onto South Parks Road. All the scientific books in the neighbouring University Museum were transferred into this new building. The original readers entrance at this time was adjacent to the Abbot s Kitchen. Phase The Library was rapidly running out of space and was extended with a perpendicular wing at the west of Jackson s original building. The architect was Hubert Worthington. Phase The Lankester Room and book stack, comprising a two-storey basement extension, was built. Prior to this, a decade was spent trying to identify the most suitable option for extending the library. Various options were rejected before an assimilation of several schemes was put forward and the basement extension agreed. The final scheme required little alteration to Jackson s original building. A new staircase and small passenger lift were inserted at the north end of Worthington s building to connect the Library with the new basement (see images below). The glazed link between the two wings was constructed, replacing the 1934 masonry link. It was designed by Pringle-Richards-Sharratt. Photos showing the construction of the RSL Basement in

The Proposal 4 Location, appearance and landscaping reconfiguration.

lift. The proposed lift mechanism has also been chosen to reduce the level of structure at ground floor level. The study considered five possible locations, two internal and three external locations.

4 The Proposal 4 Location, appearance and landscaping reconfiguration. Given the listed status of the adjacent buildings a detailed study assessing the most appropriate location for the lift has been undertaken with input and guidance from specialist heritage consultants, Purcell. Consultations with Historic England and Oxford City Council s conservation team has led to a design solution which is as light as possible with extensive use of glass for the external housing of the lift. The proposed lift mechanism has also been chosen to reduce the level of structure at ground floor level. The study considered five possible locations, two internal and three external locations. With key project constraints including conservation, structural complexity and disability access considerations, two locations are currently being considered. The first in the south east corner of the RSL Courtyard (Option 1). The second is in the south west corner of the courtyard adjacent to the 1930 s extension to the RSL (Option 2). The enclosure would be constructed from glass which would minimise any obstruction of view of the courtyard main façade. The lift will be trimmed in bronze to soften the impact of the metal elements and to blend in with the colours of the existing building s sandstone walls. The lift car, when not in use, will be parked below ground level to keep the above ground structure clear. For both location options there would be a need to reconfigure the existing parking arrangements. Option 1 will result in the loss of three general use parking bays. Option 2 will result in the loss of two parking bays. There will be no loss of disabled parking provision. A reduction in parking provision is a principle which is supported by the local council and accords with the University's existing transport management plan for the City centre. Architect s impression of the proposed entrance to the lift in Option 1 location Basement Lower Basement Section detail of the new goods lift

5 Next steps 5 Timeline The timeline for the project is as follows: 2016 June Pre-application discussions with Historic England and Oxford City Council commenced. July Public Consultation Initial feedback from pre-application discussions and Public Consultation events, subsequent review of comments. August Further discussions with the City Council and Historic England. September Submission of planning application. November Expected Decision. December Discharge of any conditions as required January Target date for commencement of work. July Construction works forecast to complete. Your opinion is very important to us. There is a feedback form which we would be grateful if you would complete and submit to us either in hard copy or online at public.consultation@admin.ox.ac.uk by 22 July The consultation information and online feedback form are available at

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