The Baillieu Library is the University’s largest discipline library and was Australia’s first purpose-built university library. Since then, it has seen many changes but retains its status as a “storehouse of wisdom”.

This new library space, designed by NTC Architects and completed with the expertise of Improvision Design, provides more than 200 additional seats, many with individual power sockets and individual lighting.

The facility includes bookable computers and study booths, a ten person project room and after-hours access seven days a week. The south-west section of the ground floor has now also been reconfigured to offer yet more project rooms and flexible study spaces.

A redevelopment of Level 2 of the Baillieu achieved an increase of 60 seats and a significantly improved amenity space for the students with a choice of group, individual and booth-style seating.

Improvision upholstered the back-to-back booths with centre divide achieving a brilliant utilisation of space for high traffic areas.

Rows of banquette seating featuring wood panelling complimented the design and provided necessary acoustic benefits by dampening noise in the large communal areas.

A signature product for Improvision Design is our ability to work with different foam thicknesses and densities, and in this instance allows for low level lighting in structural column panelling. Also included in this column panelling is a special decorative stitching detail which is produced by Improvision’s specialised equipment.

Overall – this project demonstrates a modern modular approach to public and community spaces