Buildings

Seven award-winning architects are in contention to be commissioned to build Birmingham's new Central Library.

The new library in Centenary Square has a £193 million budget and will include a brand new library building, as well as a foyer and auditorium to be shared with the REP Theatre.

The winning firm of architects will be chosen by an official selection panel and announced in September.  The final design is expected to be complete by autumn 2009, with building work to begin in 2010 and an official opening scheduled for 2013.

Library history

The current 1974 library building over Paradise Forum was designed by local architect John Madin. Built in the modernist style and based on the design of Boston's City Hall, the current building has had several noted critics, with Prince Charles describing it as "a place where books are incinerated, not kept". However, many are campaigning for the existing building to be maintained and kept as it is, rather than face the bulldozers.

Birmingham's existing Central Library is the third incarnation that has stood on the current site. The first was opened in 1865, but a fire in 1879 caused extensive damage to the building. The library was subsequently rebuilt, reopening in 1882, where it stood until the current building began to be constructed in the late 1960s.

The Candidates

There are seven candidates in the running to design and build Birmingham's new Central Library:

Wilkinson Eyre Architects

UK based practice whose designs include the Arena and Convention Centre in Liverpool, Singapore Gardens by the Bay and The Gateshead Millennium Bridge – which currently features on the new £1 coin.

Copenhagen's Royal Library (Jorgen True)

Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects

This Danish practice’s portfolio includes City of Westminster College’s Paddington Centre, University of Aberdeen New Library and the ‘Black Diamond’ extension of the Royal Library in Copenhagen.

Mecanoo

The National Kaohsiung Performing Arts Center in Taiwan is one of Netherlands-based Mecanoo’s designs - alongside the Learning Center for the École Polytechnique in Lausanne which revolves at 15 degrees per hour.

OMA

Amongst  OMA’s back catalogue are Casa da Musica in Portugal, Prada’s Epicentre in Los Angeles and the redevelopment of the iconic Commonwealth Institute in Kensington and Chelsea.

Foreign Office Architects

This UK-based practice constructed the £200 million International Ferry Terminal in Yokohama, Japan.  They are currently undertaking the design for the £4 billion London 2012 Olympic Park.

Hopkins Architects

 British practice whose portfolio includes such significant buildings as the Mound Stand at Lord’s Cricket Ground, the Forum in Norwich, and ten times award-winning Jubilee Campus in Nottingham.

The Sage - Gateshead (pic. Nigel Young)

Foster + Partners

Lord Foster’s leading UK practice Foster + Partners have designed buildings such as the new Wembley Stadium, the “Gherkin”, and Stansted, Hong Kong International and Beijing Capital International airports.

Have your say

Do you think Birmingham needs a new Central Library? Where should it be and who should design it?