British Library
Architect/Designer:
Colin St John and Partners
Client:
Department of National Heritage Main
Contractor:
John Laing PLC
Location:
Euston, London
Portland Stone:
Independent Whitbed
Scope of Project:
Installation of new internals with a long design life.
The British Library was designed by Architect Colin St John Wilson and opened in November 1997 by Her Majesty the Queen. The project took 21 years to complete from Planning Stages through to its opening at a cost approximately £511,000,000.
The Library covers 108,000m² divided over two floors with four huge basement rooms storing books in a stable humidity on over 340km of shelving.
The architects specified a Limestone with a long design life for the internals of the British Library. The material selected had to be safe in use, bright in colour and available for future restoration projects or additions. Independent Whitbed was chosen as the best stone. FW Bull visited Albion’s Quarry and selected blocks to be used on the Project.
Albion Stone manufactured treads and risers, straight ashlar panels and circular ashlar panels, internal paving and skirting, external paving, copings, gully stones and quoins.
Albion Stone also donated the stone used for the plaque for Queen’s opening.
This project was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize in 1998
Albion Stone, a fourth generation family business pride ourselves on having a helpful and skilled workforce as well as modern and traditional manufacturing process to enable us to produce the highest quality Portland Stone with minimal environmental impact.
