Schmidt hammer lassen win competition to create a library for the 21st century and beyond.

The University of Aberdeen has embarked on a major flagship library project worth £55.5M.

The ‘Library for our Sixth Century’ will spearhead the next phase of the University’s 10-year investment in its £228m development, which also includes a £16m medical development and a £23m sporting centre.

The design, by the Danish architects will provide facilities for 13,900 students, replacing the existing Queen Mother Library and will house historic collections of over 200,000 rare books and over 4,000 archives dating from the foundations of the University in 1495.

The design will be a spacious, light, airy and welcoming public plaza, below a spiralling atrium with a café, regular exhibitions and events.

A final design of the new library building is expected in autumn this year and is expected to open by 2010.