10 June 2026 · Campus · Michael Torres, Estates and Facilities
The Sir Gerald Ashworth Library reopened to students on 9 June 2026 after an £6.8 million transformation that reconfigured three floors of the landmark 1960s building on the Edgewater campus. The project, funded through a combination of university reserves, alumni donations and a grant from the Wolfson Foundation, modernises study facilities while preserving the building's distinctive brutalist façade.
New features include a silent study floor with 180 individual carrels, 14 bookable group study rooms equipped with display screens, and a digital archive suite housing special collections related to West Midlands industrial history. The ground floor now hosts a café operated by the students' union and a help desk combining library, IT and disability support services.
University Librarian Dr Patricia Ng reported that the renovation increases overall study capacity by 35 per cent and extends weekday opening until midnight during term time. "Students told us clearly that they needed more quiet spaces and longer hours, particularly during assessment periods. We have designed the building around how students actually study in 2026—not how they studied when this library first opened," she said.
Sustainability measures include LED lighting throughout, improved insulation, and a rooftop solar array expected to generate approximately 12 per cent of the building's electricity. The project team worked with local contractors wherever possible, with 68 per cent of spend retained within the West Midlands economy.
A formal opening ceremony will take place on 25 September 2026, coinciding with the start of the new academic year. Alumni who contributed to the fundraising campaign are invited to a dedicated tour and reception. Students can book group rooms and access the digital archive via the library website.