Rick Mather Architects have won the competition to design a new library and archive building for the Queen's College in Oxford. Rick Mather Architects beat strong opposition from MacCormac Jamieson Prichard Architects and locally based Berman Guedes Stretton Architects.

The college was founded in 1341 and the Upper Library dates from 1692-1695, originally believed to be from designs by Christopher Wren, with the Lower Library created by C.R. Cockerell dated in 1843.

Sloping rooflights above the reading room will give magnificent views up to the west elevation of the old library. The new library will provide an additional 650m² and will be almost invisible below the library terrace. The new building is partially sunk into the Provost's garden and is linked to the old Library.

The new building will provide a purpose-built home for the College's historic Collections and the Peet Library of Egyptology. It will also have additional open access and reserve collections and add almost double the number of reader spaces.

The proposal also include environmental improvements to the old Library, to bring it up to modern standards, and provide disabled access to all parts of the enlarged Library and Archive.

17 July 2006