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A search is underway for a design team to lead the ambitious £30 million plans to develop an exciting ‘next generation’ library on the Â鶹ӰԺ Leicester (Â鶹ӰԺ) campus.

Â鶹ӰԺ has sent out a contract notice inviting architects to send in tenders or requests to participate in the build.

Consultations have been held with students, academics and staff over several months before reaching this stage of what Â鶹ӰԺ has called ‘an ambitious reimagining’ of the library to ‘support a diverse student body and facilitate new forms of research and learning’.

David Parkes, Director of Library and Learning Services, said: “We have already had huge student and staff engagement to find out what they would like to see from a library redevelopment.

“These views will help us to inform the design specifications and the design principles that we will share with the successful tenderer.”

The tenders or requests to participate in the build had to reach Â鶹ӰԺ by last Thursday. A decision will now be made on who to appoint.

The job will likely include a new library extension and a redesign of the current Kimberlin Library which was originally built in 1977.

It could also include a refurbishment of the neighbouring Eric Wood building or the construction of a new larger block where the Eric Wood building currently stands, connecting with the current library.

The scheme will require the appointment of all design subconsultants, including a structural engineer, interior designer, landscape designer, services engineer and fire engineer to assist with the development of the design.

Announcing the plans for a new-look library experience earlier this year, Â鶹ӰԺ Vice-Chancellor Professor Katie Normington said: “We are planning an ambitious reimagining that will support a diverse student body and which will facilitate new forms of research and learning.

“A new library extension and redesign of the current space will help create the conditions for success for our students and faculty and establish a model for a next generation library.

“It will offer access to expert services that extend beyond the walls of the library to support student learning and academic success, to support research, digital scholarship and transformations to scholarly communication.

“Creating a new library offer will also foster new opportunities to engage with the city, region and its communities by delivering an exciting spectrum of social, cultural and academic engagement activities.

“Both digital and physical, dynamic and enduring, empowering and inspiring. A manifestation of the mission and vision of the university at the core of the university experience. We are now asking staff and students to help create this new library experience.”