Liverpool Central Library | Austin-Smith:Lord

The newly refurbished and redeveloped Liverpool Central Library is located within an unparalleled group of civic buildings which form part of a larger complex of cultural attractions, in a prominent part of Liverpool city centre near to St George’s Hall and Lime Street Station. Although occupying a group of world class buildings, Liverpool Central Library was not providing a world class library experience. The Library undertook several feasibility studies to assess the possibilities for its re-modelling and refurbishment over a number of years and the conclusion was that a total transformation of the library, and a new way of providing library services was required. The vision for the Library is for a world class, customer friendly, integrated public Library and archive in the heart of Liverpool’s cultural quarter, with books, archives, learning and reading at its centre, meeting the needs and expectations of present and future users. It will provide the city with accessible cultural and lifelong learning services for all ages from the youngest to the oldest and be inclusive of the wide range of communities living in the city. To achieve this, the new Library has replaced the 1950s, and 1970s buildings which were no longer not ‘fit for purpose’ and building a completely new library and behind the retained listed façade. These new areas now provide enhanced accessibility into the wonderful, but previously under-used, historic area of the Library. The removal of the 1950s and 1970s buildings generated a long rectangular site, bounded by the World Museum to the west, the retained historic façade to the south and the historic Library areas to the east. This gave a huge opportunity for the new elements to interact with the Library’s retained historic fabric. This exciting relationship between new and old has helped ‘rediscover’ important historic spaces, providing a richer, more attractive experience for the user. The new library is clear in its organisation and architectural expression. It is easy for staff and public to understand, aiding orientation and navigation around the building. Arranged vertically up the building, new library spaces, formed from a series of new concrete floors, provide transient, busy, interactive areas on the lower floors with more contemplative, personal space at higher level. The opportunity to experience the reinvigorated high quality historic rooms combined with the new atrium experience will set the Library as a cultural destination as well as a Library and archive facility. The experience culminates in an impressive structural timber dome and a roof terrace which provides a fabulous new vista over Liverpool’s skyline. A new approach to the new main entrance has been created in contemporary materials, increasing the visitor’s anticipation and signifying the transformation of the Library The new archive is positioned at the rear of the building clad on a re-constituted stone rainscreen and Tecu-gold cladding. The thermally massive insitu concrete structure has been used as part of the environmental strategy for the building. Shepherd Construction completed the construction of the £50 million PFI restoration and redevelopment in January 2013 after a 3 year project as part of the Inspire Partnership, a joint venture with International Public Partnerships.