Old College’s new library plans are bittersweet

Old College, The University of Edinburgh

It is exciting to see the University of Edinburgh finally renovating Old College – home of the School of Law. Being a traditionalist, it is sad to see the old staircase walked by students and professors since the 1790s retired and the library moved from the second and third floors to the first floor.

If I had the money, I’d donate to renovate the Old College with research space on the second floor, as it gets pretty depressing in winter without much sunlight. I’d also push for more Georgian décor and elegance.

The author graduating from Edinburgh's
Law School, which is in Old College.

The new interior will be lots of glass and the thin, shiny desks popular in Scandinavian design. Perhaps the result will be a chiaroscuro of Old World façade and Modern European interior. The Old Library and Lecture Theatres had a certain homey feel, which will be fondly missed, as the more modern design looks quite institutionalized.

Studying in the Law Library. circa 2010.

I wish the law student library could be as grand as the Playfair, Trinity College Library, Bodleian Library or the Schwarzman NYC library on the interior.

My fear is that the Scandinavian Modern design will be out of vogue in a decade or so and that even if not, there is a high likelihood it will not stand up well to the wear and tear of student and academic use.

Staircase to library. The steps
are worn from 225 years of
students climbing to the library.

As far as funding goes, I am surprised Edinburgh did not seek the help of a billionaire underwriter, someone like a Stephen Schwarzman, who founded Schwarzman Scholars and donated to have the NYC Mid-Manhattan library restored to its full glory.

I’m pleased to send in my small donation, but it seems the leadership of the University has not fully tapped the big money floating in the private sector.

When the work is completed I look forward to visiting my alma mater and seeing Old College.

The quadrangle project was fantastic, so perhaps, the library, faculty offices, and lecture theatres will be the same.

____________
M. Soper, Letters: Old College’s new library plans are bittersweet. Edinburgh Evening News (Edinburgh, Scotland) 3 July 2014.  http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion/letters/letters-old-college-s-new-library-plans-are-bittersweet-1-3463708 accessed 4 July 2014.