Update 2018

The £6m library refurbishment project for the Cameron Smail Library (Edinburgh campus) commenced in the summer of 2017.  The refurbishment will transform the library into a modern, flexible and comfortable environment for everyone that uses it. Staff, students and consultants worked together to agree on the design for the space, and the huge investment by the university demonstrates the commitment to working with you to improve your experience at Heriot-Watt University.

The Learning Commons which opened in 2016 has been very successful and well used by many students and staff.  It provides 200 study and learning spaces in various configurations and this will inform the type and style of spaces that are to be created in the refurbished library building.

The project is now in the second year of the building programme.  The Ground Floor, main entrance and half of Floor 1 is complete.  The rest of Floor 1 will be complete by November 2018.  When the project is finished, there will be more study spaces (up to over 1000 from the current 825), an improved working environment with a variety of collaborative study spaces, double the number of accessible study rooms and improved layout of library stock. There will also be more desk space, more space between work areas, more PC workstations and many other improvements to the building itself to help future proof it.

The library has remained open throughout the project so far and will continue to do so.  There have been times when there is restricted access to areas, noise and some disruption.  We will try to keep this to a minimum, and plan the more intrusive work for times when there is  low demand for the library .

The Learning Commons 2, the refurbished study space in the Post Graduate Centre opened in September 2017 and provides nearly 100 study spaces for all students (not just PGs) and several other study spaces will be available across campus – see Study Spaces.

We’ll keep you informed about what’s due to happen when and let you know how things are going as the project progresses.