Newcastle City Library forms part of the £40m Newcastle Libraries PFI Projects, one of the largest library PFI’s undertaken in the UK.

The six storey building has a grand four storey entrance atrium, allowing easy orientation and visual interconnection between the wide range of services on offer. The library has become a civic landmark and a community meeting place, accommodating a range of supporting facilities including a café, crèche and public meeting, performance and exhibition spaces.

Through a highly consultative approach, Kajima brought together the local community, library users and the local authority as members of the team so that the project directly responds to user needs. The result is a doubling in visitors and a library that has been awarded both the Public Library Building Award and the Newcastle City Council Lord Mayor’s Design Award in 2009.

With the use of contemporary building materials and careful planning, the overall design, featuring a mainly transparent building, is clean and modern, whilst the library still asserts its civic stature and cultural context. Working in close partnership, Kajima has created a model for 21st century library facilities.

AWARDS

  • Public Private Finance Award 2010: Best Community / User Involvement in a Project: Winner
  • RIBA Award 2010
  • RICS North East Renaissance Awards 2010: Community Benefit: Winner
  • Public Library Building Awards 2009:
    • Innovation Award: Winner
    • The Mary Finch Accessibility Award: Winner
    • Delegates' Choice Award: Winner
  • Newcastle City Council Lord Mayor's Design Awards 2009 New Building: Winner
  • Local Authority Building Control North Awards 2010: Best Community Project: Winner.
  • ACE Awards 2010: Building Structures (Large firm): Winner
Kajima

CLIENT
Newcastle City Council

Kajima

SPONSOR & DEVELOPER
Kajima Partnerships

Kajima

ARCHITECT
Ryder Architecture

Kajima

CONTRACTOR
Tolent Construction

Kajima

FACILITIES MANAGER
Integral UK

Kajima

SIZE
10,000m2

Kajima

STATUS
Operational from June 2009