First look: Brum's striking new library facade lifted into place

Here's a picture of the first section of the new £188.8m Library of Birmingham's striking façade being lifted into place today.

The metal filigree, which will wrap around the new library, was fixed to the glazed exterior facing out onto Birmingham's Centenary Square.

Passers-by will now be able to watch from Centenary Square as the remaining panels are fitted to the building over the coming months. 

The design for the library's exterior echoes the gasometers, tunnels, canals and viaducts which fuelled Birmingham's industrial growth. Featuring a series of interweaving circles of two different sizes, the overlapping aluminium rings will extend across the building from the first to the eighth floor.

Designed by Dutch architects Mecanoo, the Library of Birmingham is due to open in Summer 2013.

If you would like to explore the new library before it opens go to birmingham.gov.uk/libraryofbirmingham/virtual