Multi-million pound refurb of Wrexham's Old Library ongoing
This will be the first time since 1974 that the building will be publicly accessible.
Work is ongoing at the Old Library (Image: Wrexham Council)
The new steel and glass extension will be a focal point and location for a new city centre coffee shop or café.
Work has continued at pace, and includes; installation of high speed internet, drainage diversions, roofing works, plastering repair, removal of tent and scaffolding, placement of internal doors and screens, installation of washroom facilities, tiling, and the manufacture of cast iron floor grills.
The development of this city centre creative hub is another exciting project and is integral to the Wrecsam2029 UK City of Culture bid campaign.
Take a look inside the Old Library as work continues (Image: Wrexham Council)
Wrexham has a diverse and well established creative scene and this new facility will further support the development of this sector.
Winning the 2029 title will be transformational for Wrexham's cultural infrastructure, the new creative hub will help support businesses to achieve their ambitions, which will strengthen the council's bid to host Wrecsam2029.
Cllr Mark Pritchard, leader of Wrexham Council and lead member for assets said: 'Originally opened by Sir Foster Cunliffe of Acton Hall on the 15th of February 1907, the Old Library will shortly reopen after a multi-million pound grant funded refurbishment.
The new hub will open soon (Image: Wrexham Council)
'Our ambition for this newly refurbished Grade II listed building is for it to become a focal point and hub for the creative industries both locally and further afield.
'The refurbishment of this prominent city centre building is a reminder of our past, whilst also serving our ambitions to attract high quality and creative businesses to Wrexham.'
Cllr Nigel Williams, lead member for economy and regeneration said: 'Over the past few years we have successfully secured external funding in order to improve the look and functionality of our developing city centre."
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These include, he added, the "successful refurbishment of several shop frontages, conversions of vacant upper floors into residential accommodation, the Butchers and General Markets refurbishments via the Townscape Heritage Scheme, and the High Street and city centre public realm improvements via funding from NLHF & Welsh Government Transforming Towns Fund and Shared Prosperity Fund.
"The grant funding has allowed us to transform this historic building and underused asset into what will become a thriving Creative Hub that benefits the city, whilst ensuring it contributes towards the delivery of the city and the region's strategic vision and objectives.
"WCBC's vision is to create a flexible, energy-efficient, creative hub that mixes culture, technology and sustainability led by purpose driven organisations, entrepreneurs and businesses from the creative industry sector."
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