Pick Everard marks Nottingham Central Library completion

The £10.5m project, which is part of the wider Broad Marsh regeneration, was recently declared by Nottingham City Council to be opening its doors on the 28th of November. Our teams provided project management, quantity surveyor, principal designer and NEC supervisor services, building on our recent work supporting an interconnecting public realm in the city centre with Broad Marsh bus station and car park.

The library saw us working closely with a range of partners including acclaimed architects FaulknerBrowns, M&E consultancy Chord, and Morgan Sindall Construction and its fit-out division Overbury. It was commissioned via Perfect Circle and procured through SCAPE - one of the UK’s leading public sector procurement authorities, with a large focus on building back into the city by allocating project spend with local Nottinghamshire businesses and the wider Midlands region.

Working to set KPIs with Morgan Sindall Construction and SCAPE Consultancy, the project delivered over £2m in social value, with more than 60% of spend achieved with local SMEs, as well as over £62k through non-profit organisations.

Oliver Hatton, Director at Pick Everard, said: “We’re proud of how our close collaboration across the range of management, design and consultative services has resulted in delivering a valued space for the local community, underpinning our ethos of delivering better, together. The work has been carried out to an extremely high standard - building on the achievements of the wider Broad Marsh bus station and car park development - and we’ve no doubt the public will be delighted with the finished product.

“We’re now looking to forward to the ongoing work in the wider regeneration zone, which will continue to transform the largest development space in any core city in Europe.”

Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture at Nottingham City Council, said: “The library is looking fantastic, and we are excited to open the doors the public in November. We have worked hard with construction partners like Overbury to create a state-of-the art facility. It is a library that residents and visitors of all ages will love, but especially children who will be able to enjoy a fantastic collection of books, an immersive audio-visual story telling room and plenty of spaces to enjoy reading and take part in fun activities."

The project has prioritised cost-effective, modern techniques and the designs - taking inspiration from Nottingham's lace-making heritage - utilising carefully selected materials, such as timber for a natural aesthetic and improved sustainability.

It includes an immersive storytelling wall and different creative zones for a range of ages. The dynamic space also features an events area that forms part of the foyer and public cafe, art displays, a gaming area for teenagers, a dedicated children’s library, a teaching area, and a bookable 100-person meeting space.

Andrew Wood, Managing Director at Overbury, said: “Libraries are an important part of local communities and can be a vital lifeline for many people. This building will play a big part in the future of the city as it undergoes large-scale transformation, and it’s been exciting to see the new library take shape and the interiors have really made the building come alive.

“It’s also important to ensure the library is a welcoming environment for children and young people to help inspire a love of reading and books in our future generations. The space has been designed with them in mind and has been brought to fruition with the help of several local businesses and charitable organisations, delivering real value to the local area.”