Falls Road Library

Falls Road Library

CFM were appointed by the Education Authority to undertake a key scheme under the Greater Belfast Libraries Refurbishment Project.

The Carnegie Library on the Falls Road is a Grade 2 listed building dating from 1908 and constructed using Belfast Red Brick dressed in Scottish Sandstone from Glasgow. It contains several unique architectural features including carved stone spandrel panels over the entrance arches, oxidised silver door inserts representing ‘Art’ & ‘Literature’ and a tall copper cupola (designed as a ventilator) within the roof.

Because of weather and pollution, the building exterior had begun to deteriorate, and urgent works were required to repair, replace, repoint and clean the original brickworks and sandstone dressing and to refurbish the cast iron rainwater good and timber sash windows.

To deliver this complex project, CFM deployed skilled heritage craftsman including stonemasons and joiners and applied proven processes learned from other successful ‘heritage’ projects. These included maintaining close liaison with the Historic Environment Division and ensuring compliance with current legislation and best practice e.g. BS7913:2013 – The Principles of the conservation of Historic Buildings.