John Rylands Library.

Work has completed on the £7.6 million transformation of the Grade I-listed John Rylands Library. Led by conservation architecture practice Donald Insall Associates in collaboration with exhibition designers Nissen Richards Studio, the project has focused on sensitively upgrading key areas of the building to enhance visitor engagement and ensure it can respond and cater for the challenges of the next generation.

We delivered MEP, fire engineering and acoustics consultancy for the ‘John Rylands Next Chapter’ project which included transforming the main exhibition spaces, developing a state-of-the-art advanced imaging laboratory within the historic structure, creating a flexible event and teaching space and reimagining the main entrance and welcome spaces to better signify the importance of the building within, and to, Manchester.

The library team asked us to create a space for them to digitally image their unique collections. This is vital to help protect them for future generations by carefully documenting fragile books and manuscripts using advanced scanning and photography techniques. The library will also be able to share these precious documents more easily for research purposes. We could only use existing space in the Grade I building to develop a cool, dry lab-type environment where they could undertake this activity taking into account the way the temperature and humidity in the space fluctuates through the year. We responded by delivering a bespoke facility with appropriate ventilation, temperature and humidity control to allow any items from the collection to be brought into the space and documented.

Exhibition areas in the original 1890s building were given a new lease of life with state-of-the-art display cases. Cabling for services was carefully redirected in the new exhibitions space to allow special collections to be exhibited in an environment that balances preservation with accessibility.

At ground level we contributed MEP, fire and acoustics consultancy to meet the challenge to transform the existing café space into a new multi-use event space and to regenerate the main entrance, reception and shop areas. By carefully balancing the aesthetic needs of the space with the statutory and environmental requirements we were able to create flexible spaces that retain the spirit of the building whilst facilitating the diverse activities taking place in each area.

Having withstood numerous challenges over its history - including two world wars, the decline of the Lancashire cotton industry, and the rapidly changing urban landscape of Manchester - this redevelopment sensitively conserves and enhances one of the city's most treasured cultural landmarks.