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: 2013
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE, INTERIORS, CONSERVATION
SECTOR: ARTS & CULTURE, CIVIC
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
-
-
BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET (Interiors)With aspirations of creating a world-class centre of excellence as a dance rehearsal facility and also to support the wide... -
LIVERPOOL CENTRAL LIBRARY (Interiors)The Liverpool Central Library and Archive Project is a unique and prestigious scheme within the heart of Liverpool’s World Heritage...
-
TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY: THE CURVE (Interiors)The Curve is a competition-winning design for the heart of Teesside University’s campus. Our winning entry envisaged a central piazza,...
-
ALEXANDER HOUSE OFFICE REFURBISHMENT, CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITYPDR is a world leading design consultancy and applied research facility owned by Cardiff Metropolitan University.
-
THREE PICCADILLY PLACE (Interiors)Located within the city centre and the Piccadilly Regeneration area, Piccadilly Place is a mixed use development of 97,000 square...
-
BUSINESS SCHOOL AND GROWTH HUB, GLOUCESTER (INTERIORS)The new £17m flagship Business School and Growth Hub building for the University of Gloucestershire is a central part of...
-
LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT (Interiors)The Management School at the University of Liverpool is successful and highly regarded. Student numbers are increasing rapidly. To meet...
-
LLANELLY HOUSE, CARMATHENSHIRE (INTERIORS)Restoration of this Grade I Listed Georgian Town House to its 18th Century glory
-
YSGOL FFWRNES (Interiors)Austin-Smith:Lord undertook the role of Executive Architect in the development of a new BREEAM Outstanding 472 pupil combined Nursery and Primary...
-
CARMELITE MONASTERY (Interiors)Purpose-built new monastery for the Carmelite Sisters in Liverpool
-
GUILDFORD CIVIC CONCERT HALL (INTERIORS)RIBA Award winning G-Live Concert Hall and entertainment venue
-
CARDIFF SCHOOL OF ART + DESIGN (Interiors)Austin-Smith:Lord was appointed as Lead Designer for the £10m new build, RIBA Award winning Cardiff School of Art & Design, which...
-
DANCE HUB, BIRMINGHAM (Interiors)Austin-Smith:Lord has been commissioned to design a new extension to the existing estate of facilities operated by Birmingham Hippodrome in...
-
SHREWSBURY MUSEUM (Interiors)Austin-Smith:Lord was commissioned to sensitively restore and convert the Grade II* listed Music Hall, in the centre of Shrewsbury, into...
-
BEDWELLTY HOUSE + PARKAustin-Smith:Lord was appointed to carry out the full restoration of this 19th Century House and Parkland, incorporating new build elements...
-
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
-
PEOPLE'S HISTORY MUSEUMManchester’s People’s History Museum’s unique collections track the development of democracy through the lives of the working people of Britain....
-
MOBILE CHEMOTHERAPY UNITAustin-Smith:Lord was commissioned by Tenovus Cancer Care to develop a state of the art design for a new mobile chemotherapy...
-
THE BLUECOAT, LIVERPOOLThe Bluecoat is the earliest surviving building in Liverpool city centre and the oldest arts space of its kind in...
-
LEEDS CITY MUSEUMLeeds City Museum, located in the ‘Cultural Quarter’ area around Millennium Square in the centre of the city, is a...
-
CARDIFF SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT (Interiors)The £13 million Cardiff School of Management building is the first phase of a redevelopment master-plan for Cardiff Metropolitan University’s...
-
COLEG Y CYMOEDD ABERDARE CAMPUS (Interiors)Austin-Smith:Lord was appointed by Coleg y Cymoedd to develop proposals and brief for a new campus at Aberdare in 2013,...
-
ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY OLD COLLEGEIn 2012, Aberystwyth University engaged Austin-Smith:Lord to lead the preparation of a Feasibility into the adaptive reuse of the Grade...
-
GAIETY THEATRE, AYRAustin-Smith:Lord led the design team for the very recently completed Ayr Gaiety Theatre, including a full refurbishment of the Grade...
