Building work set to start for ground-breaking Library
and History Centre
Building work on the innovative new Worcester
Library and History Centre will start on Thursday (January) with a
special ceremony on The Butts site.
Preparatory work has been under way since the
autumn, but now contractors Galliford Try are ready to begin the
construction of the £60 million project. The Library and History
Centre is being developed in partnership by Worcestershire County
Council and the University of Worcester with support from Advantage
West Midlands and Worcester City Council, through a Private Finance
Initiative (PFI).
The combined facility at The Butts, believed
to be the first of its kind in Europe, will draw together the
County Council's library services for the City Centre with its
record office, including history centre, archaeology service and
customer services from the Worcestershire Hub, as well as library
facilities provided by the University.
Iain Paul, Design Manager of the
project, said: "It's an exciting time for us as we move
into the construction stage. People can see the building develop
over time, being shaped into an amazing facility that reflects
their own requests and offers a sustainable centre built to last
and to be as environmentally friendly as possible."
The Library and History Centre is expected to
open in 2012 and features a number of ideas fed through from public
consultation. These include the design of the Library Island
following suggestions of making use of outdoor space as well as
indoor areas.
It will also be one of the most sustainable
buildings in the country, using natural light and ventilation
through much of the interior, water from the River Severn for
cooling, woodchip for heating and incorporating solid laminated
timber in the roof. This environmentally-friendly aspect has led to
invitations from the likes of the London Climate Change Partnership
to discuss the centre's huge range of climate adaptation
features.
The building has already received recognition
for its unique design, winning the Bentley Be Inspired Innovation
in Generative Design award.
Vision of the future - An artist's impression
of the new Worcester Library and History Centre expected to open in
2012.