Prior to setting foot onsite at one of the biggest library redevelopments ever seen in the UK, local building services firm SES, has committed to protect the Grade II listed building in the heart of Liverpool, by manufacturing a significant part of its work offsite first.

In a contract worth £8 million to install the mechanical & electrical (M&E) services into Liverpool Central Library, SES will manufacture more than 60% of its components in a factory setting in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint and protect the original features of the building. 

Steve Wallwork, Operations Director for SES said, “I’m pleased to confirm that most of the new Library’s plantroom and M&E services will be pre-built using our offsite facility, SES PRISM, before we even step foot on site.  All the components are then transported to the library, before being lifted safely into place. This will avert any risk to the structure of the old building and the workforce on site, whilst also dramatically reducing our carbon footprint, compared to traditional M&E installation methods.”

Located in the historic centre of Liverpool, beside the National Museum and the Walker Art Gallery, refurbishment of the library will involve the full restoration of the Grade II listed buildings, which date back to 1850, as well as constructing new buildings behind the existing façade.

When reopened, the library will provide a new home for the Liverpool Record Office as well as housing some of the city’s most notable artefacts including; letters from Queen Victoria, Disraeli, Florence Nightingale and a recently discovered schoolboy essay by Paul McCartney. The library will also contain state-of-the-art IT facilities; five new floors including meeting rooms and a café; a new rooftop Atrium and terrace; a children’s zone and a new 24 hour on-street, drop-off book service.

SES, working closely with main contractor, Shepherd Construction will hand the fully revamped library back to the client by the end of 2012. SES will start work onsite in December this year and will install air conditioning units, specialist gasses for the purpose built climate controlled archive storage area, sprinklers, fire alarms, CCTV, security and access control, as well as sustainable energy elements, such as rainwater harvesting.

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