The Building Programme

With these two needs in mind the University requested the approval of the University Grants Committee, in 1955, for the planning and erection of a building to house the Library and provide for classrooms and substantial accommodation for members of staff. This was wholeheartedly supported by the Grants Committee and recommended to the Government, but consideration was deferred. The question was reopened last year, and the matter is at present under the consideration of the Government.

The proposed site of this building is to the east of the Science Building and beyond and encroaching on the Little Theatre Building, so that use can be made of the gully here to provide as much open fronted basement area as possible. The Library portion will have seating for 1,000 readers and storage provision for a stock of 200,000 volumes. It will be so designed, however, that it can be readily expanded to accommodate 1,500 readers and 500,000 books.

There will be studies for 140 members of teaching staff, a number of classrooms of various sizes, and special laboratory and other provision for the Department of Psychology.

Such a building, however, will be a major undertaking, and in view of past experience will take at least six years to complete from the time that the Government gives authority to proceed with planning. But in six years' time the roll will have almost doubled.

In the meantime it may be possible to make some small increase in reading room space by using the Cafeteria-Common Room area that will become vacant when the Student Union Building is completed. This will not, however, solve the problem of staff accommodation. To meet this need the University Council has proposed to the Government an extension of the present Biology Block, this to be used in the meantime largely for staff studies.

The Departments of Botany and Zoology have outgrown their present premises, but their needs can be met in the meantime by the provision of one further laboratory and certain ancillary services. By 1965, however, extensive further provision will be called for. If permission is soon forthcoming to make a start on the Arts and Library Building, this building can be completed by 1964. An extension of the Biology Block, if started soon, could accommodate the extra staff due to arrive between 1959 and 1964. When the Arts and Library Building is completed these staff members will occupy the studies in this new building and the entire Biology Block will be converted to meet the needs of increased enrolments in Botany and Zoology. In this way the University can to some degree meet the problems of the immediate future.