Bromley Library Move Now Underway

London Borough of Bromley / library in the old Top Shop

We’ve been working on design and strategy for moving Bromley library (London’s busiest lending library) from the Churchill Building, which was built by the borough architect in 1977 and which also houses the Churchill Theatre, now scheduled for redevelopment after exchanging contracts with the Galliard Group and Trafalgar Theatres.

The new (old) Top Shop location on the High Street is easily adapted on an adaptable footplate and this is going to be a superb new library. Ellis Williams Associates and Hannah Wehbeh (both of whom we also worked with on Storyhouse) have done a fantastic job following design principles collectively believe in for new libraries -where welcoming and noisier retail areas for families and community draw you into quieter zones for study and work.

Render, Bromley new library

DOK, Delft

We’ve also managed to squeeze in multi use event stairs, a must have for turning customer journeys into an adventure.. It’s about reclaiming libraries’ rightful place on the high street, and making the changes needed to meet high street expectations.

Gouda

Plans for the new library reflect substantial feedback from residents and library users, including over 1,500 responses received to surveys over the summer of 2024. As well as the state-of-the-art library soon to reopen in West Wickham, the council is continuing to deliver library refurbishments across the borough, with works now underway at Chislehurst, Mottingham and Orpington libraries.