Date: 21 September 2007 17:12

LATEST LIFT FOR CAMBRIDGE CENTRAL LIBRARY

Cambridge's new state of the art Central Library continues to rise from the 
rubble as the builders bring in the heavy mob for the latest stage of the 
work.

A massive mobile crane with a lifting capacity of 200 tonnes squeezed itself 
into the narrow Corn Exchange Street to carry out the third of a series of 
six lifting operations to hoist heavy steelwork into the shell of the
building.

Work started at 5.30 am and the lifting operation was completed without a 
hitch by 10.00 am, keeping disruption to neighbouring streets to a minimum. 
The work was carried out on a Sunday again to limit the impact on the city 
centre.

No part of the Lion Yard building is adjacent to the highway so all building 
materials have to be lifted into the construction site - creating a major 
challenge for the construction company.

Most materials are delivered to a basement area under the Library and then 
hoisted through the existing lift shafts. The delivery of large heavy items 
is carefully co-ordinated to coincide with the mobile crane visits.

This latest visit delivered structural steelwork that will be used to 
construct new third floor extensions out onto existing terraces, enlarging 
internal floor areas. The steel sections were lifted over Fisher Square to 
the third floor, placed on trolleys and then distributed to the required 
location within the building.

The old Cambridge Central Library closed its doors to the public for the 
final time on January 20, triggering the start of construction work that 
will transform the building and the services offered to the public. The 
Library is set to re-open in Spring 2008.

The scale of the work is massive. The inside of the building has been ripped 
out, some internal areas demolished and other rebuilt, a link access to the 
neighbouring Grand Arcade will be created, old storage and office space cut 
away, and new floor space created by filling in a void between the first and 
second floors.

The old entrance has been removed and replaced by a new access linking the 
building to the Grand Arcade's first floor shops and the Lion Yard car park. 
Asbestos has been removed and the electrical wiring, heating and plumbing 
completely replaced.

In addition, escalators giving access to all three floors are being 
installed and the lifts refurbished. In all the work is costing around £7.5 
million.

Services and opening hours at other branch Libraries in Cambridge have been 
extended during the construction period and a Mobile Library now parks on 
Cambridge Market Square on Mondays and Saturdays between 10.00-4.00pm. 
Except on Bank Holiday Mondays.

John Reynolds