Birmingham library receives best building of 2013 award

  • 2013-12-29
The Library of Birmingham has been named building of the year by a popular architecture website.

The Centenary Square library, which cost £188 million to construct, has been overwhelmingly chosen by the readers of Architects’ Journal as the best building of 2013.

Votes were collected online, and when the winner was announced, the Architect’s Journal reported that the building has allowed Birmingham to make a “bold civic statement” during a period when libraries across the city had to close due to financial pressures.

The structure, which is 10 storeys high and decked with rings of aluminium, was opened officially in September by Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai.

The facility’s launch saw the city receive worldwide coverage, and the site is believed to have already welcomed more than a million visitors – one of whom was Prince William, who was taken on a guided tour of the site in late November.

However, the chair of both the Strategic Board and Library Trust, businessman Keith Bradshaw, said he believes that the Library of Birmingham will have to work hard if it is to justify its price tag – particularly in light of the cuts expected in the coming years.

When innovative new buildings are nominated for prestigious awards, their managers often vie for first place by encouraging people to vote. Services such as flyer and poster printing in South Birmingham provide an effective way of publicising a message.

Other buildings listed on the readers’ poll included London’s iconic 20 Fenchurch Street – commonly known as the Walkie Talkie – which was designed by Rafael Viñoly, an architect from Uruguay.