Home to more than 150 million items, the British Library is the second largest library in the world. When it needed to reconfigure its staff catering facilities, Gratte Brothers was engaged to re-site the staff catering area to the third floor and equip a members’ bar on the second floor.
The catering area’s new equipment could only be moved in via the members’ reading room and had to be done after the library had closed. This necessitated protective corridors of access being constructed each evening and removed the following morning.
Gratte Brothers provided specialist servery counters designed by the project architect and installed all new kitchen appliances and connections. The members’ bar received retrofitted under counters and hot water appliances, along with a small function kitchen.
As a Grade I listed building, the Library’s works had to occur in consultation with the project architect to avoid affecting the listed finishes. Gratte Brothers employs experienced personnel to ensure the required quality of sensitive projects is achieved, especially when clients require works to be undertaken outside of standard working hours.
The project was completed on time, on budget, and to a high standard, which secured further works with the British Library.