The British Library

Sir Colin St John Wilson designed the library with M J Long. The built design follows the scheme of 1975–78, construction ran from 1982 to 1999 and the building opened in 1997 (NHLE 1426345). It has a concrete frame on 7.8m by 7.8m column centres, clad inside and out in hand-made sand-faced dark Victorian Red brick from Leicestershire, chosen because it comes from the same clay as the bricks of St Pancras Station and Hotel next door. Ove Arup and Partners were the structural engineers. The listing takes in works of art integral to the design and names Paolozzi's 'Newton' in the piazza, while excluding free-standing or curated works; the adjoining Conservation Centre of 2006, by Long and Kentish, is stated not to form part of the special interest. The library's origin is the Royal Library of 10,500 volumes presented by George II in 1757, which brought with it the right to a copy of every book entered at Stationers' Hall; the Copyright Act 1911 extended that to every book, periodical and newspaper published in Britain.