The Amelia Scott Centre
A combined art gallery, museum, and library in Tunbridge Wells.
Gresswe;; is delighted to have been a part of this ambitious integrated services project. Originally conceived as a millennium project, construction finally started in 2020.
The project to convert and upgrade the Grade 2 listed building took 70 weeks to complete at a value of £21 million.
An architect-led design, the Amelia Scott Centre brings together numerous services under one roof, interconnected with a new building to house the library, which interlinks two older buildings.
The building houses a range of galleries, displaying items from the local area as well as what was the Tunbridge Well Library. They are hoping to attract more than 500,000 visitors a year.
The building is named after Amelia Scott, a suffragist and one of the town’s first female councillors. She is well known for campaigning for women’s rights and helped to set up the original library and museum.
The project was funded by Tunbridge Wells Council and Kent County Council with lottery and Arts Council funding. The Gresswell team’s experience of working on another combined university and public library – The Hive in Worcester, showed we had the expertise to design and instal shared services spaces.
The children’s library area is the real jewel in the crown. Marion said, “The layout for the children’s space has some magical touches. Everyone is amazed by it – thank you for such a brilliant job!”
Angela Breakey, Library Manager sees the children’s library as an important part of their library’s reader programme, saying, “these children are our readers of tomorrow and we must look after them.”
Enriching Lives, Inspiring Learning.
Gresswe;;, as a preferred supplier provided library furniture and shelving for the new space. Pale grey Cantilibra™ shelving with 18mm Birch MFC cladding was used throughout to create a calm and contemporary aesthetic. We also assisted with managing the space planning aspect of the project, ensuring that required book stock levels were achieved.
Our Cantilibra™ shelving range was specified because of its’ flexibility, longevity and most importantly, the ability to clad it to suit the overall aesthetic.
As well as creating shelving for the main library space, the Cantilibra™ components were also used within the children's library where shelves were set within a bespoke carcass.
As well as the shelving, Gresswell provided loose furniture to complement the design.
The project has been challenging for all those involved at every stage of the project, but all stakeholders agree that the local community has gained a striking and important cultural space.
ITV Meridian's Abigail Bracken speaks to William Benson, Chief Executive of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Head of Culture, Nicky Carter.
ITV News footage: https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2022-04-25/21m-new-building-brings-together-museum-library-and-adult-education
You can learn more about this project on the Designing Libraries website, click here.
