For information about the official opening of the Birkenhead Library and Civic Centre which took place on 13 March 2010, see the event page.
Birkenhead Library and Civic Centre is a state-of-the-art facility for North Shore City, which opened for operation on 17 December 2009. A formal opening celebration took place on 13 March 2010.
The new building provides key community services in an architecturally-designed, purpose-built facility which makes the most of its setting amongst established trees and panoramic views of Auckland and Rangitoto.
It is approximately 50 percent bigger than the previous library complex and brings together a range of community services in one building – including 
Plunket, Citizens Advice Bureau, meeting rooms and some civic services, together with the collection of more than 50,000 library books.
Have a look at our video fly-by of the proposed library and reserve area in the Related Links menu on the right hand side of this page.
Creative sustainable design
Carefully developed by architects ArchOffice to respond to the natural surroundings, the design concept works with existing established trees in the in the Nell Fisher Reserve, which in ancient ti
mes were part of an extensive Kauri forest. Panoramic views are made the most of, as Auckland, Rangitoto and the upper harbour edge show through into the building, between the trees.
Concern for surroundings has also been central to the adoption of Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) principles.
ArchOffice director, Brendan Rawson says preliminary modelling prior to completion indicates a Five Star+ Green Star rating may be achieved – the New Zealand Green Building Council’s rating system for environmental performance of New Zealand buildings.
The building encompasses a wide range of energy savings, such as internal lighting control by daylight sensors, low energy fittings throughout, both natural and mechanical thermal ventilation and heating, the use of smoke extractor fans for night purging and ventilation in summer, and a computerised building management system.
Architectural design by ArchOffice
Notions of canopy, transparency, solid and void, and pattern and shadow are articulated in the design. The building is all on one level with a mezzanine above to take advantage of the view and natural light, as well as providing an optimum floor plan arrangement to suit the civic and library management.
The library, which sits on the basement car park, is simple in form, a two storey long rectangle and annex glazed at both ends, with two articulated facades on each long side. The northern side facing the park is screened by a sculptural series of timber fins. The other side has a combination of solid and glazed patterned elements to filter light and screen the adjacent residential apartments, together with a large horizontal clear glazed window set at a height from the mezzanine to take account of a full length panoramic view.
Materials have been selected for a combination of properties - low maintenance and durability, transparency, texture, and thermal mass. Brick is used as a historical reference back to the old library and Plunket rooms which used to be on the site.
Nell Fisher Reserve
The landscaping of Nell Fisher Reserve, managed by the North Shore City Council parks team, beautifully complements the new building.
The park features specially commissioned sculptures by artist Jeff Thomson and the renovated Category 1 Birkenhead War Memorial. The existing memorial, which had been damaged, was disassembled and has been restored to its former glory, with additional lighting now added for its display.
How did the project come about?
By the year 2000, it was recognised that the old Birkenhead Library and Council Area Office building was not big enough and not designed to cope with the future needs of a growing and diverse community. A section of council services had relocated to Takapuna and the vacant floor space on the top floor was inappropriate for the library.
In June 2003, council resolved to provide funding for a new library and area office in Birkenhead.
A feasibility study on the costs of a refurbishment, expansion or re-build was undertaken, and alternative site options in the Highbury shopping area were assessed and rated by a professional consulting group in August 2003.
The report recommended the demolition of the old library and area office building and the Plunket Rooms, and construction of a new facility on the same site. The recommendation was unanimously accepted by the Community Board and council.