The library is a central part of any community, offering free access to reading materials as well as internet access and a whole host of practical services. As most libraries have been established for many years, the buildings that house them are often old and as such require structural repairs to keep them safe and fit for use. Blackburn Central Library is one such building and Mitchell's Scaffolding was proud to be contracted to install bespoke scaffolding as part of a renovation project called 'Back to the Future'.
For more than forty years, the building that now plays host to Blackburn Central Library was a busy department store. Half a century ago in 1970, the library was established there and the building was clad with concrete. Over time, erosion of this concrete cladding caused damage that eventually became so bad that lumps of masonry became loose, threatening to fall into the street below.
A project to remove the concrete cladding was authorised by council chiefs, who approached Mitchell's Scaffolding to design and build scaffolding to facilitate the crucial project. Our bespoke-designed scaffolding gave workers clear, safe access to the building's facade to remove the dangerous cladding and restore both the structure's safety and attractive aesthetic.
Damian Talbot is in charge of leisure at Blackburn with Darwen Council. Commenting on the removal of the concrete cladding, he said: "The scaffolding that has been on the central library for around 12 months is almost completely removed, and the majority of the stonework has been restored. This was a vital piece of investment, and what it did was give us an opportunity to restore the building to its original glory. The library is very important in the town, very well used and one of the busiest libraries in the north west, and it is a landmark building in Blackburn centre.”
It was a proud moment for our team when the scaffolding was dismantled and removed, allowing the library to reopen for business. The project coincided with the unveiling of new facilities within the library itself. Check out our online portfolio to learn about more of the crucial projects we have facilitated with our scaffolding and access solutions.
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