The Forum, Norwich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Forum |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Norwich |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 52°37′39″N 1°17′26″E / 52.62750°N 1.29056°E |
| Opened | 1 November 2001 |
| Cost | £66 million (equivalent to £79 million in 2021) |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Glass and brick (exterior), steel (frame) |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Sir Michael Hopkins and Partners |
| Other information | |
| Parking | Underground parking |
The Forum is a modern public building located in Norwich, Norfolk, England. It opened its doors in 2001. The building was designed by a famous British architecture company called Sir Michael Hopkins and Partners.
The Forum was built to replace the old Norwich Central Library. That library sadly burned down on the same spot in 1994. Inside The Forum, you'll find the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library. There are also offices, shops, and studios for the BBC. These areas are built around a large open space called an atrium. The building has a big glass front, brick walls, and a roof made of glass and metal panels. The whole project cost about £66 million. A large part of this money came from the Millennium Commission. The library inside The Forum is one of the most popular in the country. The Forum itself is a busy place for public events and festivals. The open area outside, called Millennium Plain, often hosts live performances.
The Old Library and the Fire
Before The Forum was built, the Norwich Central Library stood on this very spot. It was there from 1963 until it was destroyed by fire in 1994. This old library was built in a style called Brutalist. It was one of the first big central libraries to open in the UK after World War II. The Queen Mother herself opened it.
The library cost about £350,000 to build. Some money, £30,000, was given by the United States Air Force 2nd Air Division. This money helped create a special American library room inside. It also served as a memorial for those who lost their lives in World War II. Norwich was the first city to have a free public library in 1857. This happened after the Public Libraries Act 1850 was passed.
On August 1, 1994, a fire started in the American library section. It was caused by an electrical fault. The fire spread very quickly. Within minutes, flames were already coming through the roof. About ten minutes later, the first floor was completely on fire. Firefighters arrived quickly and 150 of them worked to put out the blaze. They even got extra water pressure from Anglian Water to help.
The fire burned for three days. Many valuable things were lost. About 155,000 books were destroyed. This included books from the lending and reference sections. The American library and its 3,500 books were also lost. Many historical documents, photographs, and old newspapers were gone forever. The library was so badly damaged that it had to be pulled down.
Building The Forum
After the old library was demolished, people started planning for a new one. They looked at things like how many older people would use it. They also considered how many people would go to college or university. They expected more people to visit the library in the future.
The land for the library was owned by the local councils. They decided to ask the Millennium Commission for money. The first idea was for a project called Technopolis. It would have cost £79 million and included the new library, business areas, shops, and a car park. This idea faced some opposition and was eventually changed.
New plans were then made for a £66 million project. This new plan was first called New Technopolis. It would include the library, an underground car park, and a multimedia auditorium. There would also be a tourist information centre, a business and learning center, and a public square. The Millennium Commission gave £31 million towards this project.
The British architectural firm Sir Michael Hopkins and Partners designed the building. They planned a horseshoe-shaped building. Construction began in May 1999. The building has three floors made of concrete. It has brick walls that match the nearby City Hall. The roof is made of zinc panels and glass, supported by steel trusses. The front of the building has a 15-meter-high glass wall. The library is located at the curved end, also behind glass walls. In the middle, there's a large atrium with offices and a restaurant. Building The Forum used a lot of materials. This included over 1,500 lorry loads of concrete and almost half a million bricks. The Second Air Division Association also helped raise money for a new American library inside. This new library has over 4,000 books and many historical documents.
The Forum Today
Construction of The Forum finished in October 2001. The building officially opened on November 1, 2001. Even though it was called Technopolis during planning, the finished building was named The Forum. The new American library was dedicated on November 6. Many veterans from the 2nd Air Division attended the ceremony.
On July 18, 2002, Queen Elizabeth II visited The Forum. She officially opened the building as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations. In 2003, several BBC services moved into The Forum. These included Radio Norfolk and Look East. Their studios overlook the central area of the building.
The Forum has won several awards. In 2003, it received the Urban Design Reward. It also won a regional award from the RIBA in 2004. A visitor attraction called Origins used to be in the building. It taught visitors about the history of Norfolk and Norwich. This was later replaced by a new visitor center and a television studio.
The Forum is part of the Norwich 12 initiative. This project helps develop 12 important landmarks in Norwich into tourist attractions. The Forum is a popular place for many events. It has hosted concerts, festivals, and food events. The Norwich Science Festival also takes place here. The open area outside, Millennium Plain, is often used for public events. These include live music, festivals, and exhibitions.
