The Library of Birmingham
Catch up with all the news in our latest copy of 'The Word'
Artist's impressions of the Library of Birmingham
Video introduction to the Library of Birmingham
Community Engagement
8 March – 17 April, 10am – 4pm, Monday – Saturday
We are inviting members of the public to join us over a cup of tea or coffee in the foyer area of Central Library. You can see examples of the interior design ideas and discuss with us how these can be used within the building.
We will also be speaking to people in community centres across the city.
More information about community engagement
New ! A big thank you to everyone who took part in a focus group or activity and for giving us your views on what you wanted in the new Library of Birmingham. This report shows how we have made changes to the design based on what you told us".
Report on Community Engagement May - June 2009
Building work has started !
The Leader of the Council, Mike Whitby, visited the site as the building work started in January 2010. He sat on the piling rig which is in place to begin the drilling for the foundation works.
Latest aerial view of site
©photo: michael collins
Please click on the picture for a larger version.
Partnership announced between the Library of Birmingham and BFI Mediatheque
©Courtesy of BFI
This exciting partnership will give free access to hours of classic films, television, documentaries and even home movies to visitors to the BFI Mediatheque. Many of the rarest and most extraordinary titles in the BFI National Archive will be available when the Library of Birmingham opens in 2013.
Apprenticeships
The first nine apprenticeships have been awarded under a training and employment agreement between Birmingham City Council’s Employment Access Team (EAT) and Wolverhampton-based Carillion, the official contractor appointed to build the new library.
Archaeological dig unveils the past
Following successful completion of the archaeological excavation of the former car park site, the team from Birmingham Archaeology moved into the Centenary Square part of the Library of Birmingham site in November 2009. A public viewing platform, with a wheelchair and push-chair friendly ramp, enabled closer viewing of the site works as excavations continue. It also featured information panels about the history of the site.
Two public open days took place in 2009, when archaeologists were on hand to explain to members of the public what the excavation was revealing. The archaeological excavation of the site has uncovered remains from the city’s industrial past not far below the car park surface. Archaeologists from the University of Birmingham recorded the canal arm and factory remains before construction work for the new library began.
The Civic Centre car park next to The REP closed permanently in July 2009 to enable the excavation to take place. Alternative car parking is available in other car parks nearby, including Brindley Drive multi-storey, Brunel Street multi-storey and the National Indoor Arena. Additional disabled parking bays have been created on the road in Brindley Drive (outside the multi-storey car park) .
You can download an information leaflet containing a map of the Council's car parks at www.birmingham.gov.uk/parking
Going underground for ‘green’ energy system
The Council’s construction partner for the Library of Birmingham, Carillion, has conducted preliminary tests for an aquifer ground source system, a renewable energy resource that will utilise ground water to supplement the energy source for the new library and provide chilled water to the air conditioning system. Using a production well, groundwater will be abstracted from an aquifer. Following heat rejection via a heat exchanger in the building, the groundwater will then be discharged back to the aquifer via an injection well. Constant groundwater temperature can thereby be maintained throughout the year with this open loop system. Two 150 metre-deep bore holes were drilled in Centenary Square and on the Cambridge Street side of The REP to check the suitability of the areas for the aquifer system. Preliminary trials to check the water flow rate concluded in November 2009. If the results are successful, the renewable energy resource will help the library greatly minimise its CO2 emissions.
Planning application approved
A detailed planning application for the Library of Birmingham was submitted to the local planning authority in August 2009. The planning application shows that the design for the new library has evolved but not significantly changed since the concept design was unveiled in April 2009. The height has been reduced by one level in response to consultation and other elements of the design have been refined, such as the amphitheatre and its relationship between the library and Centenary Square. The detailed design also confirms that the historic Shakespeare Memorial Room will be located in the roof level rotunda.
On 26 November 2009 the Planning Committee agreed planning consent for the Library of Birmingham (subject to some conditions).
Further detailed design work is continuing, with the detailed design work to RIBA Stage D completed this autumn.
Summary of the planning application
The full planning application is available at Planning Online. The number is 2009/03897/PA.
You can also visit the Council’s Planning Department in the city centre at 9th floor, Alpha Tower, Suffolk Street and in Central Library (Floor 6) where a booking system is in operation. You can book in person or by phone 0121 303 4549.
Designs for Library of Birmingham
In April 2009, Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council, unveiled the design concepts for the new Library of Birmingham by the acclaimed Dutch architects Mecanoo.
The Library of Birmingham will be situated on Centenary Square between the Birmingham Repertory Theatre (The REP) and Baskerville House. The project will make a huge contribution to the regeneration of the city, creating 250 new construction jobs including 25 apprenticeships.
The library building will be joined to The REP at ground and mezzanine levels and will share the foyer, bars, restaurants and a new 300 seat studio theatre.
The large entrance canopy welcomes the visitor into the building which is characterised by circles - an amphitheatre below Centenary Square, the interior overlapping rotundas and on the outside the delicate filigree circles , inspired by the city’s tradition of craftsmanship and industry.
The journey through the building will be by escalators and travelators giving the visitor a constantly changing view lit by natural light. The design incorporates two outside terraces with magnificent views.
The library will be a cultural centre drawing visitors from all over the world and a second home for the city’s diverse communities. It is designed to be highly accessible to all - everyone will feel welcome and comfortable. It will be a community hub, reaching out to all parts of the city in an exchange of knowledge and ideas . . . a place to interact, a place to learn, study and a place to meet and take part in activities and events for families, businesses, groups and individuals of all ages. New technology will enable the city’s photographic and archive collections to be viewed and shared much more widely.
Mecanoo - the design team
The design team for the project is led by Mecanoo, an architectural practice which has received many awards and accolades for their stunning and innovative work.
Mecanoo's director and founding partner, Francine Houben, is an outstanding architect who was recently voted Dutch business woman of the year because of her entrepreneurship, vision, business and social influence and leadership. Francine and her team have been working with the City Council on the Library of Birmingham since August 2008.
From left: Clive Dutton, Director of Planning & Regeneration, Birmingham City Council, and architects Francine Houben and Francesco Veenstra of Mecanoo sign the contract for the design of the Library of Birmingham,
August 2008.
About the Library of Birmingham
The Library of Birmingham will set new standards for libraries in the 21st century, creating an exceptional resource for learning, information, and culture. The Library of Birmingham will be open, welcoming and accessible to all citizens - it will connect Birmingham to the world and bring the world to Birmingham. The project is an exciting opportunity to modernise, enabling us to deliver an outstanding public service to local people in the decades to come.
In October 2007 the Leader of Birmingham City Council, Cllr Mike Whitby unveiled proposals to deliver the Library of Birmingham on a shared site with the world famous Birmingham Repertory Theatre (The REP). This groundbreaking 93 million project will be developed on land adjoining The REP, with the library and theatre joining together and sharing a number of facilities to create a unique centre for knowledge, learning and culture. The announcement followed the completion of the business case for the Library of Birmingham by leading project and construction development consultant Capita Symonds. Cabinet approved the proposals on 22 October 2007 and the Project Manager was appointed in December 2007.
Construction has now started for completion by mid 2013.
Where will the Library of Birmingham be built?
The site for the Library of Birmingham is between Baskerville House and The REP on Centenary Square. It was formerly used as a car park, which closed in July 2009. Owned by the City Council, the site has long been earmarked for a special, high quality new development. The Council is committed to delivering a new landmark building to make an exciting addition to the urban landscape in this part of the city centre.
The development will include a new 300 seat studio theatre, meeting and conference rooms, plus cafe and restaurant facilities that will be used by both library and theatre visitors, with the two organisations working in partnership to deliver a diverse range of activities and events at this exceptional destination for culture. The development will boost and consolidate the continued regeneration of the city centre's Westside and the improvement of Centenary Square.
Please click on the picture for a larger version.
Carillion - the City Council's construction partner for the Library of Birmingham
Carillion, the multi-national Wolverhampton-based construction company, has been appointed official contractor to build the Library of Birmingham.
The multi-million pound construction and fit-out project will create an estimated 250 new jobs over the three year construction period. Carillion will work with the Council’s Employment Access Team to ensure that jobs created are accessible to those in the most deprived areas of the city.
Find out more about Carillion
Listing of existing Central Library
English Heritage have advised the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport that the Central Library meets the criteria for Grade II listing. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport are now considering all the evidence and decide whether to grant immunity or to list the building.
Update - 23 November 2009 - Culture Minister Margaret Hodge announced, during a visit to Birmingham, that the Central Library building has been granted immunity from listing.
Further comments on immunity from listing.
The Library of Birmingham business case
The Library of Birmingham business case sets out the details of the proposal, including information about the costs, funding and delivery programme. It is available to download - Library of Birmingham Business Case
Why does Birmingham need a new library?
Birmingham's existing Central Library is the busiest public library in Britain and the city's most visited public building. However there are major problems with the building, which was built in the early 1970s. The fabric is in very poor condition and the design unsuitable for modern-day needs. The storage capacity and environment, and level of public access for archives, photography and rare printed collections are unacceptably poor given their national and international significance. The Library of Birmingham will provide an exceptional solution to this.
Shortlisted Design Teams
Mecanoo were awarded the Library of Birmingham contract, beating off stiff competition from an outstanding shortlist, after a rigorous and intensive selection process which involved many key senior officers from within the City Council and the REP, and a representative from RIBA (the Royal Institute of British Architects).
The shortlist of seven internationally renowned architectural practices was:
- Foreign Office Architects
- Foster and Partners
- Hopkins Architects
- Mecanoo
- OMA
- Schmidt Hammer Lassen
- Wilkinson Eyre
Strategic Design Brief
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