Refurbishment of Barrow Library entrance lobby
Refurbishment of Barrow Library entrance lobby
- Client – Cumbria County Council
- Contractor – Colin Briscoe Construction Ltd
- Value – £100,000
Project scope
Barrow Library is housed in an impressive Victorian building and underwent a multi-million pound redesign in 2021 to provide a brilliant new space for all the community.
The redesign transformed it into a flagship library for the council’s customer connect buildings, where staff can deal with a wide range of customer enquiries, as well as providing a vibrant, safe space for families and library users.
It included the creation of a cafe area, a sensory room for children with additional needs, a new children’s library and a soundproof pod.
The former Cumbria County Council, which was replaced by Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council following local government reorganisation in 2023, engaged Align to refurbish and alter the entrance lobby of the grade-two listed library.
We worked alongside the contractor, Briscoe Construction Ltd, to carry out this part of the wider project.
The refurbishment
Works included the design of glazed oak screens separating the entrance lobby area from the library area, as well as new entrance doors to the lobby archways, creating a more open and welcoming entrance to the building and the library.
In addition, the removal of modern timber effect panelling and book display shelving from archway pillars exposed original oak panels, and some missing panelling and cornicing was reinstated to match the existing.
Flooring and decorative work was also undertaken as part of the refurbishment.
Project outcome
The library was reopened after the multi-million pound refurbishment in September 2021 with a community event held to celebrate the redesign of one of the town’s landmark buildings.
Among the project’s challenges included providing a solution to a grade-two listed building which addressed modern fire safety standards in a sympathetic manner.
But this was overcome thanks to excellent communication and teamwork between all parties throughout the refurbishment, which provides a fantastic space for the communities of Barrow.
A spokesperson from Westmorland and Furness Council said: “The Barrow Library building was redesigned in a bid to make the building more accessible to the public, open up existing space and develop it into a key local customer hub.
“A strong project team, working with partners such as Align has delivered a wonderful, inclusive community asset which benefits the whole community.”
