Leisure, Healthcare & Communal Buildings

The £5 million redevelopment of 5Rise Shopping Centre in Bingley, West Yorkshire, now has a new library facility, thanks to 4Urban.

Working in close collaboration with the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, 4Urban re-located the existing Bingley library to its new premises within the redevelopment scheme.

The company invested more than £500,000 into the interior fit-out and equipment, and appointed specialist interior company Preferred Office Environments.

4Urban and the council shared a vision for Bingley library to become a focal point for the community. They wanted the space to bring people together and to inspire generations to read, create and imagine.

The 6,000ft2 facility contains the usual book and computer provision, as well as WiFi so customers can bring in their own laptops. It also has a meeting room that can be used by community groups, as well as a café area and self-service issue and return machines.

Neutral décor keeps the space from becoming claustrophobic, while the use of bright accent colours and fun furniture creates a relaxing and inspiring learning environment.

Paul Lancaster, managing director of 4Urban comments: “We wanted to work together with the City of Bradford MDC to provide a flexible community space within the 5Rise redevelopment. The community room enables the library’s staff to invite the community of Bingley and surrounding areas to be involved with the people and environment in which they live.

“In particular the children’s area of the library has been designed with great care, from the caterpillar graphic on the shelving to the elephant stools, bug shaped tables and bean bags. In this ever increasing digital age I hope that the design will prompt children to ask their parents to be taken to the library.”

For further information visit www.5rise.co.uk.