Southend University and Public Library

The project was a joint venture between Southend -on-Sea Borough Council, the University of Essex, and South Essex Council. 

WF Education won the tender to fit-out the children’s library area and provide shelving for the project. Marion Brook, Operations Manager, Southend Borough Council said, "the WF tender presentation just stood out from the rest, it had the WOW factor, and they were really in tune with what we were thinking."

The WF team’s experience of working on another combined and public library – The Hive in Worcester, showed we had the expertise to design and install 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.” 

With 150,000 books and materials to be incorporated into the space, planning and logistics were key to successful delivery. The result is a library open seven days a week, buzzing with students and the public.