Liverpool Central Library revamp progresses
Liverpool Central Library in the UK is undergoing a £54 million ($85.62 million) makeover.
The project is being executed by contractor Shepherd Construction, in association with restoration specialist William Anelay on behalf of Liverpool city council. Work will be carried out in two sections including historic and new build. The historic segment will restore the Picton, Hornby and Oak buildings and retain the building facade on William Brown Street.
The gold leaf on the decorative elevated panels of the Picton room have already been substituted as part of the project. Its dome has been re-clad in zinc with a new glazed oculus light fitted at the apex. Further, some of the original features of the library including the 15 Liver Birds engraved on the surrounding stone masonry have undergone repair work.
The new section of the project will involve construction of a new library building which will replace the extensions from the 1950s and 1970s. The building will sport reading and information floors, public café, meeting rooms, atrium as well as roof terrace. There will also be construction of a separate purpose-built climate controlled repository which will function as a storage space for the Liverpool Record Office.
The facility is scheduled to reopen by early 2013.
