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Discover the Glen Study Space at Walton Library

16 March 2026

A space designed around how you study

The Glen Study Space at the north-east end of Walton Library has been completely refurbished to create a more comfortable and flexible place for you to study.

Overlooking the Town Moor and Exhibition park, the space now offers a mix of individual and relaxed seating designed to support different ways of studying.

 

A complete refurbishment

The Glen was previously a silent PC cluster with a teaching area. However, our user experience research showed that the space was not meeting your needs. Despite being Walton Library's largest PC cluster, it was one of the least used spaces - even during busier periods.

The renovation took place between July and September 2025 and led to a full redesign of the room.

The project improved the environment itself, rather than just adding new furniture. Improvements include:

  • New carpeting and fresh paint
  • Secondary glazing to make the room warmer
  • More power sockets for laptops and devices
  • A new layout designed for both quiet study and social learning

The changes create a brighter, more comfortable space for studying.

New furniture and study options

The new and improved Glen space introduces several new types of furniture to the Walton library, giving you more choice in how and where you study.

New features include:

  • A 21-seat snake sofa
  • One- and two-person study huts
  • Adjustable laptop tables
  • Comfortable armchairs

This variety of seating creates a space that supports both individual work and more relaxed study.

New layout of the Glen study space showing the snake sofa and several study huts
New layout of the Glen study space showing a different view of the snake sofa and two study huts

Your feedback

We've been collecting student feedback through whiteboards in the room and QR codes placed on tables, allowing you to quickly share your thoughts while using the space.

Some of the comments we've received include:

  • "Perfect"
  • "Beautiful view and cubby corners"
  • "STUNNING"
  • "This has truly elevated Walton"
  • "It's so cute and cozy"
  • "I LOVE this new space"
  • "GOATED!"

A more flexible place to study

Since reopening, the space has seen significantly higher use, particularly in the evenings.

The new layout allows individual study and social activity to comfortably coexist, creating a welcoming and flexible study environment for everyone.

Check out the Glen Study Space at the Walton Library today! We look forward to seeing you there.