Please click here for a comprehensive list of L&K's library experience


The practice of Long & Kentish is founded on library experience, and libraries continue to be central to their work.

M.J. Long was a partner at Colin St John Wilson & Partners, where she was co-designer of the new British Library and was responsible for the coordination of the brief with the client. She was also partner in charge of the design of the library for Queen Mary College in Mile End Road, London, completed in 1988. At the time, university libraries were designed to be deep in section and air-conditioned. The design of the new QMC library broke new ground by having a shallow section building, with natural light for readers, and natural ventilation. The library received The Standing Conference on National and University Libraries award for design excellence.

Rolfe Kentish was an associate in Colin St John Wilson & Partners, and was responsible for organizing the office to produce the contract documents for the final stage of construction on the British Library.

When they opened their own office in 1994, Long & Kentish built on this experience with their competition winning design for the Aldrich Library at the University of Brighton, completed in 1996.

The library experience of Long & Kentish has ranged from small to large, and from private to public. Recent work includes a large extension to the Public Library in Newport, Rhode Island (completed 2001), another University Library for Brighton University (completed 2001) and a design consultancy on the National Library for Singapore (completed 2005) (winner of the competition).

Long & Kentish have designed a number of Libraries as Architects of Record. In addition, M.J. Long has also acted as Library Design Consultant on a variety of joint projects with other architects. She has also written and lectured around the world on library design.

Please follow the links on the left to view selected libraries or click on the PDF icon above to view Long & Kentish's Libraries brochure including a comprehensive list of projects