Fully booked: Capita Symonds to relocate British Library stock

Capita Symonds is working on an innovative scheme for the British Library to provide storage in controlled conditions for some 7m books. It’s an unusual job, because in some ways the care of the books is being put before construction issues.

The scheme at Boston Spa in West Yorkshire involves building a home for the books featuring low levels of oxygen and an automated filing and retrieval system. As project manager and QS, Capita is also involved in transferring the books from various London locations to the new site. The scheme is priced at £25m overall, with a construction cost of £13m.

Contractor Allenbuild is building the new facility under a develop and construct GC Works contract. However, the books are paramount on this project, so a separate contract is being used for the building’s insides. This has been awarded to FKI Logistex, a specialist contractor. The firm is installing the automated storage system and ensuring conditions are nearly airtight. FKI Logistex is under a separate contract.

Julian Taylor, project manager for the British Library, said: “The shape of the building is being driven by the automation inside it, so the automated design takes precedence over the envelope’s design.” The scheme’s architect is Atkins.

Taylor said that while using two separate contracts for the building and storage contractors on a single project may seem risky, an interface document was in place to tie together the two contracts. He added that two contracts were unavoidable as it was imperative the storage system was perfect.

The facility will store books classed as low and medium-use. This will take the pressure off the main library in London, which will continue to house high-use material. The British Library’s collection is expanding at a rate of 12.5km of linear shelf space per year.

The scheme has a sustainable element – several hundred trees and bushes uprooted to make way for the new building have already been transplanted to a nearby area.

Paul Terry, associate director of Capita Symonds, has been assigned to the project, which is due for completion in October 2008. Construction is to start late July.