Library of Birmingham awaits Stirling Prize decision

THE Library of Birmingham will find out today if it has won one of the most prestigious awards in British architecture, the Stirling Prize.

The £186m library in Centenary Square has been shortlisted for the award alongside five other buildings in the UK.

Winning the accolade would bring the library to the attention of a wider public and could be expected to provide a significant boost to the city’s tourism efforts.  

The Royal Institute of British Architects, which awards the prize, said the building played an important role within Centenary Square and was a bold addition to the city.

The library was designed by Dutch architects Mecanoo and was built for Birmingham City Council by contractor Carillion.

The venue has already attracted more than a million visitors since its opening in September last year.

It has been nominated for the award alongside The London Aquatics Centre, Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre, the London School of Economics’ Saw Swee Hock Student Centre, The Shard and the Manchester School of Art.

The awards ceremony takes place at the home of the RIBA in Portland Place, London.