Jesmond Library | Community-Led Retrofit & Civic Renewal

Jesmond Library - Renewal

Black and white photo of a modern round building with large windows and vertical structural supports, under a cloudy sky.

Flyer for heritage open days at Jesmond Library featuring images of children and adults exploring library exhibits, including a model of the library and a group of school children in a classroom setting.

A side-by-side comparison of a building's exterior at dusk and a thermal image of the same building showing heat patterns, with labeled temperature points.

The left side shows a building's illuminated exterior at night with a staircase inside visible through large glass windows. The right side shows a man working on electrical or audio equipment inside a room, with large fans, cables, and tools around h

Library interior with a worker on a cherry picker, and a tablet displaying a 3D scan of the library's layout.

A group of people attending a presentation in a library, with a speaker at the front near a large screen displaying a slide, and shelves of books visible in the background.

Side-by-side photos of building roofscapes under construction or renovation. The left shows a close-up of a weathered metal railing with paint chipping near windows. The right features a roof with black flashing and wooden planks, with scaffolding an

Two photos of a curved rooftop under construction, with the left showing a worker in a safety vest working on the roof, and the right showing the roof with scaffolding and wooden planks, against a cloudy sky.

Construction workers installing metal flashing on a building rooftop with scaffolding, wooden walkways, and old brick buildings in the background.

Comparison of building exteriors before and after repairs: top left shows a damaged roof with peeling paint and cracked surfaces, bottom left shows a similar roof in better condition, right side shows a renovated building with a clean brick facade an

Two side-by-side photos of a building with large windows and a brick wall, showing bike racks and a bicycle parked outside.

A person holding a paint color sample card near a window, and a waiting room with tangled papers, chairs, a dog, and a bookshelf filled with books.

Two photos of construction workers installing or repairing window frames indoors during the daytime. One worker is on a platform, and the other is handling a window frame near a window with leafless trees outside.

Side-by-side images of a flat rooftop under construction, showing the roofing work in progress with scattered tools and materials, and some surrounding buildings and a cloudy sky in the background.

Black and white photo of a bookstore or library interior with bookshelves labeled 'Photography' and 'Theatre'. Two people are engaged in conversation near a counter. Large windows in the background let in natural light. The ceiling has circular reces

A Community-Led Retrofit Initiative

MAZi Architects is advising Friends of Jesmond Library on the phased retrofit of this Grade II listed modernist library in Newcastle upon Tyne, helping shape a practical route toward better comfort, lower energy use and long-term resilience while respecting the character of the building. Our work has included architectural strategy, consultant coordination, review of fabric and services options, support to trustees and volunteers, and the development of a staged plan that links immediate repairs and “quick wins” with longer-term low-carbon improvements.

The project sits within a highly collaborative setting. Working with Friends of Jesmond Library, trustees, volunteers, building services engineers, heritage advisers, roofing contractors and other specialists, we have helped turn a broad ambition for retrofit into a clearer set of actions, priorities and work packages. This has included coordination around the rotunda eaves, lighting, heating replacement options, windows and curtain wall upgrades, small power and spatial implications, and the relationship between fabric upgrades, future services and listed-building constraints.

At this stage, the work has focused on building understanding and alignment: reviewing consultant studies, shaping a Stage 2 architectural strategy, coordinating discussions with trustees, helping present findings to the wider group, and preparing the next steps for targeted investigations and phased implementation. The atmosphere throughout has been thoughtful and collective, with a shared commitment to caring for a much-loved public building while making realistic progress toward a more sustainable future.

The building
Jesmond Library was built in 1963 to a design by Harry Faulkner-Brown and is recognised as an important example of post-war civic architecture. Its most distinctive element is the circular glazed rotunda, set beside a two-storey brick administration block. The building’s light-filled drum, sawtooth façade and visual openness give it a civic presence that stands apart from its Victorian surroundings, while the radial arrangement of shelving and visibility across the main hall reflect a confident public-library design philosophy. The building was later Grade II listed and remains a much-loved local landmark.
Friends of Jesmond Library
After Newcastle City Council’s library cuts in 2013, local residents organised to keep Jesmond Library open, forming Friends of Jesmond Library and establishing a community-managed model that has continued to grow. Today the library is sustained by volunteers and trustees and hosts a wide range of activity: lending, study, events, workshops, children’s sessions, talks, community support and informal use. This social role is central to the retrofit project. The aim is not simply to conserve a building, but to help a much-used civic space remain open, welcoming and adaptable for future generations.
Next steps
The next phase of work focuses on turning strategy into coordinated design and implementation. This includes targeted opening-up and investigation at the eaves, progression of agreed external works packages, further coordination of internal heating and lighting integration, and continued discussion with trustees around priorities, consents, funding and sequencing. The project remains intentionally phased, allowing the library to act on early wins while building the case for more substantial future upgrades.