Bournemouth Central Library

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Facts

Location	Client	Cost	Completion	Awards
Bournemouth, UK	Bournemouth Borough Council, Henry Boot (Kier Project Investment)	£8.5m	2002	3

Project details

The library reinvented as stimulating public living room.

Four key aims drove our design: encourage the public into the library, inspire users, optimise working practices and create a vibrant economic hub.

We designed a mixed-use building, comprising 3,608 sq m (38,800 sq ft) of library space atop 3,572 sq m (38,450 sq ft) of street-level retail.

The library features a fully glazed north-facing elevation, allowing views to and from the street and a direct connection with the outside world.

Other features include an impressive triple-height foyer, an information/issue desk overlooking the entire library and a sweeping ‘horseshoe’ layout on the first floor housing a reference library, gallery, staff offices and more.

Brief

create a welcoming information building on a former car park
drive urban regeneration

Results

visitor numbers up three-fold since launch
a reinstated historic line of the high street
a PFI project where the local authority insisted on quality and got it
awards: Prime Minister’s Award for Better Public Building 2003, Civic Trust Commendation 2003, Public Private Finance Award, Operational Local Government (runner up) 2005