Case Study: Lit & Phil Library, Newcastle
About the Lit & Phil Library
The Lit & Phil is a Grade II* listed, purpose-built members' library in the centre of Newcastle. Designed by the architect John Green and opened in 1825, the library is a fine example of Greek Revival architecture, and retains a number of original internal features, including classical stucco ornament on friezes, wrought-iron gallery balconies, and decorative laylights. An 1885 addition to the rear is now largely obscured by the adjacent Bolbec Hall.
The Lit & Phil is the largest independent library outside London and is open to the public, offering reading rooms and free access to its collections of more than 170,000 historic and contemporary items. The building also has several spaces for hire, providing a venue for a wide range of public events such as talks, concerts, readings, discussions and book launches.
The Lit & Phil is in the early design stages of a major capital project aimed at enhancing the organisation’s inclusivity, ensuring the building is structurally sound, sustainable, and accessible, and strengthening its relevance and engagement with the wider community.
The Decarbonisation Plan
In the context of the developing capital project, the key aims of the Decarbonisation study were to:
- Establish the library’s baseline operational energy and carbon performance.
- Compare this performance against industry benchmarks and standards.
- Propose suitable targets for enhanced performance, taking into account local planning and listed building requirements.
- Appraise options available in order to achieve these targets, including energy use reductions and low/zero carbon technologies (LZCs).
- Agree on a prioritised strategy for implementation, both within and beyond the capital project.
The Decarbonisation Plan provided an opportunity to undertake a holistic review of the current performance and context of the building, enabling the forthcoming capital works to integrate considered recommendations for energy-saving interventions and low- and zero-carbon technologies.