Ben Meunier is the Director of Operations for UCL Library Services, overseeing Estate developments, Human Resources and Communication. He is the strategic lead for Sustainable Estate developments across 18 sites. Ben is leading the development of library services in UCL East, a major UCL development on the Olympic Park to create a model for the university campus of the future.

Ben holds an MBA in Higher Education Management from UCL. He has significant experience in architectural developments, including overseeing major building works in heavily-used Grade 1 and 2-listed historic buildings. Recent projects include UCL’s new Student Centre, which opened in early 2019 with 1,000 study spaces. Before joining UCL in 2006, Ben worked for BP Archives and the Royal Parks Archive. He advised The National Archives on their Public Spaces programme between 2016-17.

Since attending my first LIBER Architecture Group seminar in Madrid in 2010, I have attended a number of the biennial seminars and had opportunities to work with colleagues I would not otherwise have met. I have benefitted a lot from meeting colleagues across Europe and sharing knowledge between research-intensive institutions. There are many common challenges we face around space and architecture, and a huge variety of approaches adopted by different LIBER members. I think it is crucial to develop our understanding of the role of physical space in a world of digital information. The LIBER Architecture Group provides opportunities to hear the latest in good practice and to share what lessons have been learned in a supportive environment. That way, we can avoid making the same mistakes and improve our understanding of what makes great library space through each project.