Liverpool Central Library
The Liverpool Central Library and Archive Project is a unique and prestigious scheme within the heart of Liverpool’s World Heritage Site. The project provided a 8000m2 library and specialist archive and restored 4000m2 of Grade II* Listed historic buildings on William Brown Street.
A new 6-floor library, with an exciting atrium, gives the City of Liverpool a library for the 21st Century. The library connects to the historic Picton Library, the Hornby Library and Oak Room giving these areas a new lease of life and bringing them into public use.
A new archive repository provides storage for Liverpool’s most valuable collections and includes first class facilities for preservation and research.
Press and Publications
Liverpool Library video from Wash Design
Image credits: Shepherd Construction
It’s like going to meet your gran and finding she’s turned into Beyoncé
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Central Library is without doubt one of the most significant and celebrated buildings in Liverpool and its restoration is more than just bringing a venue back into use – its investing in the heritage of the city.
Breathtaking development.
Joe Anderson – mayor of Liverpool
LOCATION: LIVERPOOL
CLIENT: LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL/INSPIRE PARTNERSHIP
VALUE: £50m
COMPLETION: PHASE 1 2013. PHASE 2 2015
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE, INTERIORS, CONSERVATION
SECTOR: ARTS & CULTURE
CONTRACTOR: SHEPHERD CONSTRUCTION
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: LORD
STRUCTURES: ROC CONSULTING
SERVICES: BURO HAPPOLD
COST CONSULTANT: SHEPHERD CONSTRUCTION
AWARDS:
2014 RIBA NW REGIONAL AWARD
2014 RIBA NW CONSERVATION AWARD
2014 RICS AWARD: NW PROJECT OF THE YEAR
2014 RICS AWARDS: NW COMMUNITY BENEFIT AWARD
2014 RICS AWARD: NW TRAVEL & TOURISM
2014 LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE AWARDS: HIGHLY COMMENDED
2013 BUILDING AWARD: BEST TECHNICAL INNOVATION
2013 NW REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION AWARDS: REGIONAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR
2013 LABC NW BUILDING EXCELLENCE AWARDS: REGIONAL WINNER
FITZALAN HIGH SCHOOL, CARDIFFA key brief objective was that the design of the new school should provide flexible and adaptable spaces to teach and learn the New Progressive Curriculum- AYRSHIRE HOSPICEDesign of a supportive palliative care environment for those in Ayrshire with life-limiting illness
- OLD COLLEGE, ABERYSTWYTHWe are developing a vision for the future of this Grade 1 Listed building
- COMMUNITY HUB, ARCHIVE + LIBRARY, SWANSEATransformation of two vacant department stores in the heart of Swansea.
- SUNNYSIDE HOUSE, BRIDGENDDesign of a supportive palliative care environment for those in Ayrshire with life-limiting illness
- BANANA ISLAND VILLASThree villas in the affluent Banana Island neighbourhood of Lagos, Nigeria
- CARMARTHEN HWBRe-purposing of the redundant Debenhams department store building in the centre of Carmarthen into a new Hwb facility
- YSGOL Y GRAIG PRIMARY SCHOOLNew build, 240 pupil, one form entry primary and nursery school in Merthyr Tydfil
- SCHOOL OF HEALTHCARE SCIENCES RELOCATION, CARDIFF UNIVERSITYRelocation of the School of Healthcare to a new site adjacent to the UHW hospital
- LIFE SCIENCES INNOVATION CENTRE, INVERNESS£9 million Life Sciences Innovation Centre in Inverness for partnering Client consortium of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).
- ALEXANDER HOUSE OFFICE REFURBISHMENT, CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITYPDR is a world leading design consultancy and applied research facility owned by Cardiff Metropolitan University.
- TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY: THE CURVE (Interiors)Competition-winning design for the heart of Teesside University’s campus
- LIVERPOOL CENTRAL LIBRARY (Interiors)"It’s like going to meet your gran and finding she’s turned into Beyoncé’
- NISSI BEACH VILLAS, CYPRUSHigh specification villas on the last beach-fronted site in Ayia Napa
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES NEWPORT CAMPUS REFURBISHMENTInterior Design services for phased refurbishment works at the University of South Wales Newport Campus
- MILKWOOD ROAD LONDONAustin-Smith:Lord worked with Pocket Living to design contemporary, stylish, intermediate-affordable homes for Londoners to buy on a number of different sites
- THREE PICCADILLY PLACE (Interiors)Mixed use development of 97,000m2 comprising offices, hotel, residential apartments, shopping, food and drink over three levels of underground parking
- BUSINESS SCHOOL AND GROWTH HUB, GLOUCESTER (INTERIORS)Flagship building for the University of Gloucester
- LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT (Interiors)State-of-the-art new facility that encourages collaborative and social learning
- LLANELLY HOUSE, CARMARTHENSHIRE (INTERIORS)Restoration of this Grade I Listed Georgian Town House to its 18th Century glory
- CARMELITE MONASTERY (Interiors)Purpose-built new monastery for the Carmelite Sisters in Liverpool
- G-LIVE CONCERT HALL, GUILDFORD (INTERIORS)RIBA Award winning G-Live Concert Hall and entertainment venue
- DANCE HUB, BIRMINGHAM (Interiors)A striking new rooftop extension to Birmingham Hippodrome’s campus, the home of Birmingham Royal Ballet
- CARDIFF SCHOOL OF ART + DESIGN (Interiors)Our second RIBA Award winning project for Cardiff Metropolitan University
- SHREWSBURY MUSEUM (Interiors)Sensitive restoration and conversion of the Grade II* listed Vaughan’s Mansion and Grade II* Music Hall
- MONASTERY OF ST FRANCIS & GORTON (INTERIORS)RICS NW Building of the Year: Restoration and extension of the near derelict Grade II* Listed Church and Friary
- BEDWELLTY HOUSE + PARKFull restoration of this Grade II Listed 19th Century House and Parkland
- PEOPLE'S HISTORY MUSEUMOur mission was to consolidate the Museum onto one site and give it a striking new presence in the city
- CARDIFF SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT (Interiors)RIBA Award-winning building, forming first phase of a redevelopment masterplan for Cardiff Metroplitan University's Llandaff Campus
- MOBILE CHEMOTHERAPY UNITMobile chemotherapy treatment vehicle for Tenovus Cancer Care, the largest of its kind in the world
- COLEG Y CYMOEDD ABERDARE CAMPUS (Interiors)BREEAM Excellent new college building on a town centre site
