Projects

UPPER AUSTRIAN STATE LIBRARY LINZ
EXTENSION TO LISTED OLD BUILDING

The listed library building, dating from 1931, needed to be converted from a closed-stack archival library to a reader and customer oriented open-stack reference library. To achieve this, the existing 4 storey building – a solid structure with brick walls and ribbed slabs – was renovated and extended with a 10 storey new building. An excavation pit measuring approx. 26.5 x 13.3 meters and 8 meters deep was required for the three sub-levels of the new building. The most technically suitable and economically expedient measure for securing the neighbouring buildings and rebuilding the foundation was by using high pressure injection with bracing.

The structure of the new building was mainly implemented with site concrete, whereas the facade columns on the upper storeys consist of prefabricated elements. A special structural element is the almost 13 meter spanning cross-sectionally optimized prestressed concrete connector with the maximum possible glass roofing area to create a light-flooded and transparent inner courtyard.

Client STATE OF UPPER AUSTRIA
Architect BEZ + KOCK ARCHITEKTEN, STUTTGART
Location LINZ, AUSTRIA
Completion 2009
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