21st December 2017 By Clark Contracts Ltd
West Calder Library is the proud new recipient of a prestigious SPACES (Society for Public Architecture, Construction, Engineering and Surveying) award.
The library was announced as a joint winner in the Small Refurbishment category alongside Wombwell Chapel from Barnsley at an award dinner on Friday 3rd November at the Forest of Arden Marriot Hotel and Country Club Meriden in Birmingham.
SPACES is a collaborative organisation for those in the building professions working in and for the public sector and is committed to assisting its members in achieving the highest possible standards in the development, design, construction and management of the public sector estate for the mutual benefit of their employers.
West Calder Library has also been selected to feature in SPACES annual yearbook for 2017/18 alongside fellow West Lothian project the Broxburn Library Relocation.
Executive councillor for culture and leisure, Dave King said: “This is a fantastic accolade for West Calder Library and is a testament to the hard work of those involved in this project. The library has an important place in the local community due to its proud history and the restoration work has ensured the building will continue to be at the heart of the town for years to come.”
West Calder Library was originally opened by Lord Roseberry in 1904 and was funded by a grant from Andrew Carnegie. Since then the Library has been refurbished a number of times over the years. The current refurbishment was designed in-house by West Lothian Council Construction Services (Architects), with Currie & Brown (Quantity Surveyors), WYG (M&E Engineers), Brown + Wallace (CDM Advisors) as the design team, and was delivered on site by contractors Clark Contracts.
Michael Scanlan, Director, Clark Contracts, said “It was fantastic to be involved in this project at West Calder Library and for it to win the prestigious SPACES award makes it even more special. We hope everyone enjoys the newly refurbished library for years to come and we look forward to working with West Lothian Council again in the future”.
The project allowed the building to be sympathetically restored and keep most of its original grade B listed features, while the new shelving and furniture brings a modern open feel. The flooring is the original flooring that had been hidden beneath carpeting for a long number of years which has now been restored to a beautiful standard.
The clock is also an original feature being in the building since it opened. The space beneath the library, formally the Librarians house, has also been converted to provide modern semi-open plan offices, fit for purpose and location of the Breich Valley Housing Team.
The current Library provides adult reading groups, Bookbug sessions for families, children's activities as well as a selection of books for all ages. Computers are available for free public use, with sessions bookable in one hour slots.
More information on what’s on at West Calder Library is available at: http://linkscan.io/scan/ux/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2VzdGxvdGhpYW4uZ292LnVrL2FydGljbGUvMjI1NC9XZXN0LUNhbGRlci1MaWJyYXJ5/CBF7766AA9B2014EF5C5630E12ABEF34A5E562589D7808100679651C7D396077?c=1
Look inside our Head Office:
Look inside our Edinburgh Office