Kajima today announces the completion of its £25 million Newcastle Libraries PFI project.

The centerpiece of this project, the new Newcastle City Library, will open to the public in June this year. Built on the site of the former library by Princess Square it extends to some 8,000m2 and includes a 180-seat performance space, displays of local heritage treasures, a creche, a cafe, an internet information hub and meeting rooms for community groups.
The Kajima consortium includes Ryder Architecture, Tolent Construction who successfully met a tight construction timetable and Integral UK who will manage the building for the next twenty-five years.

Poet Laureate Andrew Motion will be the guest of honour at today's completion ceremony, joining the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Councillor David Wood, Council Leader John Shipley and Councillor Pauline Allen.

Morton Corbitt, Head of Development, Kajima Partnerships Limited, said: "This project reflects the continuing Kajima tradition of award winning PFI design delivered on time and to budget. Kajima Partnerships is proud to contribute such an outstanding civic building that will prove to be a great asset for the City of Newcastle over the coming years serving as both a civic landmark and a community meeting place. It's design is inspiring and welcoming, encouraging people to visit and enjoy that experience. We hope this will prove to be a benchmark model for 21st century library facilities."

Councillor Pauline Allen, Newcastle City Council's Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Customer Services, said: "Now that the building work is over everyone can see what an absolutely remarkable and striking building City Library is. We think people will be even more excited and proud when they see what's inside and the hard work starts now getting things ready for the library's official opening in June."