Can you tell me about the new Borthwick building?

The new Borthwick building, which cost £6.5 million, of which £4.4 million was awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is as far removed from the old as it is possible to imagine.

The new Borthwick searchroom

Accommodation for searchers has more than doubled, and comprises one large searchroom for a minimum of 25 persons using original documents and a large adjoining searchroom for microfilm users. This has ended the previous long waiting times for appointments.

The searchrooms have purpose designed furniture, a map table, adjustable table for less able users, and wireless computer connections. All lights and windows are filtered for ultra violet light and the lux levels of the windows and lighting are also controlled. The searchroom office is large and generous.

The ten strongrooms of the old building have replaced by two large new ones, located much nearer to the searchrooms, rather than in far flung locations, thus cutting ordering and waiting times. The new strongrooms have provided 100% growth space.

Their temperature and humidity are maintained to British Standards mainly through passive control of the building fabric (the strongrooms are built as a massive concrete shell), but with additional mechanical air handling.

Mobile shelving in the new Borthwick strongrooms

Archives are stored on electronic shelving, which was the largest installation of its kind in 2005.

Other facilities include an exhibition area, with museum quality showcases, a lifelong learning suite for groups, classes and teaching with documents, and well-appointed staff offices, workrooms and conservation.

The new Borthwick building has been described in Christpher Kitching's Archive Buildings in the United Kingdom 1993-2005 (2007) and an analysis of its building and design featured in an article in the Building Services Journal, in December 2004.

During its first 12 months of opening, many groups and individuals came to tour the building.

In the 2008 York Design Awards, the combined Raymond Burton Library and Borthwick Institute were among the ten local buildings honoured in recognition of excellence in conservation and outstanding and distinctive contemporary design, being described as "a striking landmark addition".