Innovations of the IC

Architectural

The Information Commons is a seven storey building with a gross area of 11500m2, and 7 800m2 of usable space. It utilises a reinforced concrete frame, with innovative semi-precast floor slabs using the Cobiax bubbledeck system. Its external cladding is principally of pre-patinated copper sheet, and grey terracotta tiles attached to a steel frame.

Its dramatic external form, by architects RMJM, features distinctive full-height copper-clad northlight windows that wrap over the ceiling of the top floor.

Internally, the building features a triple-height top-lit atrium, a double-height silent reading room with balcony, and variety of smaller spaces from classrooms down to six-seat group study rooms.

Acoustics are carefully managed, to minimise noise break-in from nearby traffic and rapid transit trams, and internal reverberation. The silent study spaces are acoustically isolated from the rest of the building.

Climate control is achieved through a network of conditioned air modules (CAMs) which use the underfloor spaces as a plenum for air distribution, with floor-mounted fan tiles.

Lighting strategy is optimised for the use of natural daylight, with generous northlights to avoid glare and solar gain. Background artificial lighting is subdued (150 lux), and supplemented by task lighting on desks and bookshelves.

Environmental

The Information Commons is designed to have a low environmental impact for a building of its size and function. Key design considerations are:

• a grey water harvesting system that uses filtered rainwater for toilet flushing and washbasins
  
  
• energy efficient conditional air module (CAM) climate control
  
  
• high performance thermal insulation
  
  
• intelligent lighting that reduces lighting levels in areas where no students are working, and shelf lighting designed to switch on and off automatically
  
  
• cladding and construction materials that are easily recyclable
  

Technological

The Information Commons contains technology every bit as advanced as its twenty-first century external form might suggest. This includes:

• pervasive wireless networking
  
  
• radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for managing the bookstock, including one of the first robotised book return sorters in the UK, and self-service book issue throughout the building
  
  
• extensive use of plasma screens for directional and information signage
  
  
• advanced low-energy low-footprint PCs
  
  
• thin client kiosk-mode workstations for email and online catalogue access
  
  
• group study areas with huddleboards and copycams, enabling students to record whiteboard work
  
  
• classrooms with advanced Sympodium technology for student/teaching interaction and group working

The awards

It´s not entirely surprising that a building as dramatic and successful as the Information Commons should have collected a clutch of awards.

• RIBA Award, 2008
  
  
• RIBA White Rose Gold Prize for Architecture, 2008
  
  
• RIBA White Rose Building of the Year, 2008
  
  
• RIBA/Sheffield Civic Trust Sheffield Design Awards, Building of the Year, 2009
  
  
• RIBA/Sheffield Civic Trust Sheffield Design Awards, Sheffield Citizens’ Award, Commendation, 2009
  
  
• Construct Award for Innovation and Best Practice, 2007
  
  
• Construction Products Association Awards - Innovation Award, 2007
  
  
• Building Magazine Sustainability Award (Runner up), 2007