Birmingham Library

Capita Symonds is project and cost manager for the new £188.8m Library of Birmingham. The current building - Birmingham Central Library - opened in 1973 and is the busiest public library in Britain, attracting more than 1.5 million visitors per year. The design, however, is inflexible and cannot be easily adapted to keep up with the ever changing developments in ICT and patterns of use for learning, information and culture. Designed by Dutch Architects Mecanoo, the new Library will comprise of ten floors, nine floors above ground and one below ground, and is expected to attract up to 10,000 visitors per day. The development will also include a new flexible circa 300 seat studio theatre which will be shared by both the library and the adjoining Birmingham Repertory Theatre. The new building will feature a spacious entrance and foyer with mezzanine which will act as the gateway to both the library and the Birmingham Repertory Theatre; a new flexible studio theatre; a lower ground level with indoor terraces; four further public levels; and two outdoor garden terraces. A 'golden box' of secure archive storage will occupy two levels of the building, within which the city’s internationally significant collection of archives, photography and rare books will be stored. A new state-of-the-art exhibition space will also open up public access to the collections for the first time. Treasures include one of the world's largest Shakespeare libraries, including a rare copy of Shakespeare's First Folio; the archive of the Matthew Boulton and James Watt steam engine partnership (an excellent collection of early and fine printing); and extensive photographic archives, including the work of Sir Benjamin Stone, Francis Bedford and Francis Frith. The library will also provide state-of-the-art storage (including expansion space) for the archives which contain a number of unique, valuable, and very often fragile items that require safe, secure and environmentally controlled conditions. The archive materials date back to the 12th century and include manuscripts, photographs, letters, diaries, title deeds, estate papers, manorial records, legal papers, maps, plans, photographs, film, oral history recordings and digital resources. The golden box will be formed from gold coloured anodised aluminium panels, the metallic finish changing hue depending on weather and sunlight conditions. The archives storage will also be surrounded by high performance insulation to protect the library’s archive collections. At the summit, a rooftop rotunda will house the Shakespeare Memorial Room, which was originally part of Birmingham’s Victorian library and a panoramic viewing gallery where visitors will be able to enjoy stunning views from one of the highest points in the city. An outdoor amphitheatre in Centenary Square will also provide a performance space for music, drama, poetry reading, storytelling and more, providing a vibrant new dimension to Centenary Square. The Library of Birmingham will be accessible and family-friendly. Transforming library services city-wide, it will provide access to information for everyone, whether in the building, online or through collaboration with community libraries. Capita Symonds was originally appointed to manage the preparation of the complex business case for the project in September 2006, before being selected as project and cost managers in December 2007. Since then the team has led an international design team competition that resulted in Mecanoo’s appointment, and an OJEU selection of the delivery contractor for which Carillion was selected as successful bidder earlier this year. Archaeological works on the project commenced in July and construction began in early 2010. Completion is scheduled for mid 2013.