Saltire Centre, Glasgow Caledonian University
July 5, 2011 Filed under: 2000s, Culture, Leisure by Sanna Fisher-Payne 25 comments
Opened in 2006 the Saltire Centre immediately received international acclaim. It is a University Library, the best example of social learning space in Europe and a one stop shop for access to student services – as the Guardian reported ‘it rewrote the design book for academic libraries’ and was ‘a University but not as we know it’.
The building, 10,500 sqm over 5 floors, has a complete range of study environments from the mall to the monastery and is a masterful piece of architecture that ensures that this broad range of environments each remain discrete and functional in their own right.
The building is mostly described as inspirational, innovative and ground breaking but it’s real strength is encapsulated in a student comment received shortly after opening – “It’s a fantastic 21st century building but it feels like home”
It’s a university, but not as we know it [Guardian]
www.leswatson.com
Derek Elder
November 28, 2011
Definitely an old alumnus [1978] and I can vouch for the quality of the space compared with what went before. Haven’t been there for a couple of years, but aim to get back soon.
Asma
October 20, 2011
I am posting this from Saltire Centre.It is such a awesum place that i usually came here daily even after my completion of studies.a DYNAMIC UNIVERSITY,A DYNAMIC SALTIRE CENTRE….
Debbi Boden
October 14, 2011
The Saltire Centre is a wonderful place for students to study and learn. There are different areas for students to work in wether they want to work in a silent area or in groups. The building has a constant buzz and the students love working in it.
G McCredie
October 3, 2011
The building is excellent, light, airy, comfortable (except for the low backs on some seating) and a good environment to use and study in. The staff are pleasant and helpful, especially those in the library. The only down side is smokers hanging around the front door of the saltire building and piles of their debris in various secluded corners of this a non smoking campus.
Marion Kelt
September 28, 2011
The Saltire Centre is a great building, but is very much a work in progress. We have listened to our students and have tried to develop the space is ways to suit their needs. We need our students to keep up the feedback so we can give them what they want!
Ted smith
September 20, 2011
This is a fantastic building that should inspire learners. What a magical setting in which to develop one’s mind. Well done to all the team that brought it to fruition.
Dilip Kumar
September 16, 2011
Hello guys i am Dilip from India . satire centre is such a awesome place to study, compute and chat with fellow friends. very few universities offers such a calm and peaceful environment for any kind of personality . Thanks to
Chidi Ogbonda
August 16, 2011
Saltire centre is such an awesome place to study. I love every bit of it.
Ian Johnston
August 13, 2011
Those who criticise the buzz in parts of the Saltire Centre forget that a key objective was to create a space that encouraged students to learn from eachother in informal teams . The buzz means students are talking to eachother. Hopefully learning too. Another objective was to link several buildings on campus. It does that and in consequence the “library” is now central to the student experience.
Ralph Leishman
August 8, 2011
As the person with governance responsibility for giving approval to the go ahead to build, I can assure everyone here that the key person was Les Watson not any of the priofessional advisers. All the professional advisers contributed tremendously but none were responsible for the creation of the concept. One minor little fact, the F&GP Cttee of Court took a very close interest, gave the Uni team their head to contract with only 30% design agreed (same as Scottish Parliament fiasco), monitored very closely and turned the building in within budget! The Saltire Centre would be a very deserving winner of this poll.
Drew Plunkett
August 5, 2011
I think it’s about time that BDP stopped taking credit for the innovative thinking and interior design of the Saltire Centre. To the best of my knowledge it was the work of Val Clugston and Scott Mason while they were working as a team within Curious Orange. They have now gone on to form their own interior design company, Nomad, and their success with creating learning centres for institutions such as Bristol and University College London would suggest that it is they who are recognised as leaders in the field. It might be a good idea for anyone interested to look at their website.
BDP were responsible for the shell but not the interior, which makes it work so well. Architects are very prone to take the transformative work of interior designers for granted. BDP are alone but they could set a standard by acknowledging the work of others.
Severine McCulloch
August 7, 2011
I think Drew Plunkett’s comments are misplaced in this forum and to be honest, quite unprofessional. He does his own profession a great disservice and for whatever personal reason, tints the site with a flavour of sour grapes . Everyone is aware that delivering such a building is a team effort, with many consultants coming together in the interest of the final product. There is no need to stand on a soap box and deliver what reads like the personal grudge of an interior designer against the architects.
The building is fabulous and a great credit to all those involved.
Ralph Leishman
August 8, 2011
We really don’t need personal sour grapes here around what is an excellent example of real creative design in Scottish and UK HE. It is about time that some professionals climbed down off their high horses and contributed to the greater good.
Angus Kerr
September 14, 2011
Drew,
I have a high regard for you and your contribution to the teaching of ID as head of department at GSA and have been your compatriot since we worked together on Glasgow City of Culture 1990 – heavens we even share the same basic design principles, black suits and 19.99 Casio quartz watches as de rigeur – but oh, oh how could you be so wrong in believing (if you actually do) that such an amazing, mould breaking educational tour de force is successful only by dint of its furniture specification and layout.
I wish you all the very best in retirement but if this is sincerely your view and not just another example of your ascerbic Sternian irony, then it is as well you have retired before you completely ossify.
Helen McCulloch
August 4, 2011
I visited the Saltire Centre and met with Les Watson to discuss the vision which led to this fantastic building for students. It allowed me to work with pupils and form a vision for our school and to create some spaces which pupils aspired to be in out of a very sterile building. The Saltire Centre deserves to win not just for itself but for the projects which have emanated from it.
Stephen Hoare
August 4, 2011
Saltire Centre is a fabulous building and an innovative take on the function of a university library.
Piet van der Zanden
August 4, 2011
Strategic members of our Delft University of Technology visited the Saltire Centre and were positively immersed by its vision and mission. The humming and buzzing of active students and visitors inspired the idea to create our own learning centre.
Lyn Oates
August 3, 2011
Great flexible educational space
Yves E.
August 2, 2011
I visited the Saltire Center in March. I was astonished both by the architecture and the way it is used. Inspiring, all around the world, for new Learning Centers.
David Donald
July 27, 2011
Great flexible space that has already been altered in a variety of ways. Of course users need to be educated to use it – and many of them are. The foot-fall speaks for itself. Those of us who studied in a previous era know the truth about university study space: we lived in the Mitchell! One of the pioneering buildings in the world-wide learning spaces movement.
Nikhil
July 26, 2011
I am posting this from the saltire centre. Its such an awesome place. I come here daily to do my studies. It adds life to the university by making it look dynamic rather than a place for just academic use.
Rabbie Burns
July 26, 2011
As an old(ish) alumini i remember the library prior to the new fandago and it was a miserable, drab kind of place to visit. What it did have however was ample quiet places to study (and open plan discussion areas) to shut things out and focus 100% on study. Yes, the way we learn has evolved and the Cally has tried to create something for the future, but I am afraid the Centre falls into the trap of creating something sexy to dazzle potential students with rather than something that will enable and foster academic success.
Alison Arnot
August 3, 2011
Hi Rabbie, as a fellow ex student and a current staff member it’s great to know that you’re still visiting the university. Just wanted to let you know that there are completely quiet areas in the Saltire Centre and in fact the building was designed with the principals you’re talking about in mind – the bustly communal areas designed for group work and conversation at the base of the building become quieter as you move up the floors until you reach the completely silent individual study area on the top floor. This is explained to all new students so they can use the building in the way that best meets their needs.
DEREK BURNS
July 25, 2011
I used the Saltire when finishing up my MBA great space . However, I am afraid that while aesthetically pleasing as the building may appear at night .However, during the day I am afraid I likened it to a big shed. A space should not just look pretty at night, but should look good on the inside as well. It was designed for functionality and a place to study. I feel that the lighting and functionality of this space is not that great and the University will in my opinion be left with a product that will be required to be looked before too long.. How much future proofing was involved….??????
Sorry…