Architect	James Stirling
Date Built	1968
Location	Sidgwick Site, West Road
Description
A popular expression for items that are controversial is to compare them to Marmite on the grounds that you either love it or lothe it, and many of James Stirling's buildings appear to fall into this category, including this one.  John Summerson, writing in 1983, said it is, "... a redoubtable, daunting monument; enigmatic; a crystal fort with a shiny brick rampart; something of a factory, something of a conservatory... The building as a whole strikes me with something very like awe."  A comment on its Wikipedia website adds that, "... Although the building was admired by students of architecture it is less well regarded by those who have to work in it. A 1968 review noted that environmental controls might be difficult to operate by humanities-oriented occupants. Expensive modifications were necessary to render it usable, and in 1984 the university came close to pulling the whole building down.The remodelling of Stirling's attempt to create an environmentally sustainable structure was announced in 2004. The project was headed by John McAslan, who said that "The main problem with the building is that it leaks, it’s too bright, too hot in summer and too cold in winter.”  Nevertheless the building, which houses the Seeley Historical Library, is Grade II Listed and Mark Girouard said in "Big Jim: The Life and Work of James Stirling" (1998) that the building fulfilled, "... Jim's ambition in all his buildings - to raise the spirits." The listing information describes the building as being constructed of, "... Reinforced concrete frame with steel roof, clad originally in red brick and tile and patent glazing, in 1985-6 most of the tiles on the lift towers and walkways replaced in red brick of identical colour. Common rooms, seminar rooms and tutors' rooms stacked in ascending L' shaped range buttressing central fan-shaped library sunk into semi basement and with stacks on two levels. Entrances on two levels, via steps and ramp, which are an integral part of the composition. Adjacent to the principal entrance are two semi-freestanding towers housing lifts and stairs. Stairs also in the glazed ends of the ranges." "The concept of the design was that its hub should be the library, `the motivating element of the Faculty' and the glazed upper corridors reinforce its importance. Between its design in 1962-3 and the start of work a failed land purchase forced the building to be turned through ninety degrees, which proved problematic for the building's innovatory ventilation system. This and subsequent problems with falling tiles (accredited to the contractors) in the early 1980s ensured controversy for the building, now largely appeased."

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