Birmingham City Council announces Netherlands based Mecanoo as Library of Birmingham Architect

August 5 2008

Mecanoo was today revealed by City Council Leader, Councillor Mike Whitby, as the architect chosen to design Birmingham’s new library, integrated with Birmingham Repertory Theatre (The REP) in Centenary Square. 

The Netherlands-based architect was one of seven international firms shortlisted to work on the £193 million project, which will combine the new library and REP to create a unique centre for knowledge, learning and culture.

Architect Francine Houben, who runs the Dutch firm, led her team to Birmingham again today to join Councillor Whitby and the REP’s Executive Director Stuart Rogers for the announcement.

Cllr Mike Whitby said: “With their creativity, vision, experience and international pedigree I believe Mecanoo are the perfect choice to help us deliver an innovative world-class building, which the people of Birmingham can be truly proud of.

“Their enthusiasm and understanding for the project, coupled with a track record for delivering visually stunning yet user-friendly buildings, really made them stand out among those short-listed.

“Getting the design of this building right is of the utmost importance as not only will the new development be unique within this country, but as a combined cultural centre it will be of international relevance and become a symbol for Birmingham recognisable across the globe for many years to come”.

Mecanoo has designed many highly original library, learning and arts centre buildings, including National Kaohsiung Performing Arts Center in Taiwan and the Library for the Technical University in Delft.  One design, the Learning Center for the École Polytechnique in Lausanne, revolves at 15 degrees per hour – the same speed as the Earth.

Houben’s renowned firm have won no less than fourteen major architectural awards since it began in the early 1980s.  These include two coveted Dedalo Minosse International prizes, most recently for their work on business innovation centre FiftyTwoDegrees in Nijmegen, Netherlands earlier this year. The other was for the Montevideo skyscraper in Rotterdam, which also scooped an International Highrise award, a National Steel Construction prize and a City of Rotterdam Building Quality prize in 2006.

Mecanoo director Francine Houben said “We are excited to have been selected to design  a library integrated with the REP that will become the social heart of Birmingham. Mecanoo loves to create unforgettable collective spaces, inside and outside. It is a challenge to realise this major project on Centenary Square. We hope to create a people’s palace, warm and welcoming. I hope it will be loved by the Birmingham citizens.”

REP Theatre Executive Director Stuart Rogers said “We are delighted that Mecanoo will be the designing the new Library of Birmingham and Birmingham Repertory Theatre building. It’s clear from the range of highly imaginative and beautiful buildings that they have created to date that they are one of the world’s most exciting and original architectural practices. We are greatly looking forward to working with Francine and her team to create the high quality building that reflects the ambition of this unique project and of Birmingham in general.
 
Situated next door to Birmingham Symphony Hall and the ICC, the groundbreaking project, project managed by Capita Symonds, will be developed on land adjoining The REP, with the library and theatre joining together and sharing a number of facilities including a foyer, a new 350 seat auditorium, café/restaurant and meeting rooms.

The new building will also include purpose-designed study areas, new exhibition spaces and state-of-the-art interactive displays allowing public access to the city’s world-famous collections of archive and heritage material.

Birmingham based engineers Buro Happold and design co-ordinators, Davis Langdon Schuman Smith, will be working with Mecanoo to deliver the project. An announcement on the chosen contractor is expected before the end of the year.

Designs for the new building will be revealed by mid 2009, with construction to begin in 2010 and the building to open in 2013.

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