Library of Birmingham

The new £188.8 million Library of Birmingham, designed by the internationally acclaimed Dutch architects Mecanoo Architecten, will occupy a prime site on Centenary Square between the Birmingham Repertory Theatre (The REP) and Baskerville House and is a major flagship for the regeneration of the city which will create 250 new jobs including 75 apprenticeships, up from an original target of 25.

The Library of Birmingham will be physically connected to The REP and will comprise of 10 levels, with nine above ground and a lower ground floor. Described by its architect, Francine Houben, as a ‘people’s palace’, the Library of Birmingham will be accessible and family-friendly. Transforming library services city-wide, the Library will provide access to information for everyone, whether in the building, online or through collaboration with community libraries. Always open online through a brand new website and social networks, the Library of Birmingham will be accessible from anywhere in the world, at any time of day.

Design 

The Library of Birmingham will feature a spacious entrance and foyer with mezzanine, the gateway to both the Library and The REP, a new flexible studio theatre, a lower ground level with indoor terraces, four further public levels and two outdoor garden terraces.

An intricate metal facade, echoing the gasometers, tunnels, canals and viaducts which fuelled Birmingham’s industrial growth, will wrap around the building from the first to the eight floor.

A ‘golden box’ of secure archive storage will occupy two levels of the building, within which the city’s internally significant collection of archives, photography and rare books will be stored. A new state-of-the-art exhibition space will open up public access to the collections for the first time.

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 new building will be designed to function flexibly around rapidly developing new digital technologies, creating new opportunities for learning and access. It will provide:

Increased space and:

• Improved climatic conditions for storage of the library’s world famous archives
• Improved collections of photography
• Early and Fine Printing including rare treasures such as the Shakespeare First Folio of 1623 and JJ Audubon’s Birds of America, one of the world’s largest books
• Exhibition space will be dramatically increased to allow for improved public access to the archives and visiting exhibitions.

The REP will be renovated and equipped with updated back of house facilities, new workshops and new staff accommodation. It will include:

• A brand new foyer
• A new 300 seat studio theatre will be created to be shared between the REP and the Library supporting the development of learning and cultural activity for the city
• A grand circular open-air amphitheatre in front of the building will create a dramatic visual link between the Library at Lower Ground Level and Centenary Square, providing natural light and a sheltered outdoor space for staging events.

Fly-through video

Get a feel for the new Library of Birmingham with this 2 minute computer-generated video tour of the Library of Birmingham by Mecanoo Architecten.

The Big City Plan

The Library of Birmingham development is a flagship project of the Big City Plan, focusing on the regeneration of the city, the most far-reaching city centre development project ever undertaken in the UK. The Big City Plan will drive forward the next 20 years of development in central Birmingham to revive and open up whole areas of the city with a £17 billion investment and the aim of creating 43,000 jobs for Birmingham people.