The first impression when walking into the Alexander Library building, completed in 1985, is that it doesn't look like a space from the 1980s at all.

With its soaring atriums, glass lift and light-filled spaces, it could have opened a year ago.

Gavin Broom, an architect who worked on the project as a young graduate 47 years ago, credits not just the design but the quality of the construction.


"They used to build things in the proper manner," Mr Broom said.

"I'm sure there have been repairs and maintenance and changes of carpet over the years but the structure itself, the facade, it just was built to last."


A soaring atrium

While the building was completed in 1985, work began in 1978 when the architecture firm Cameron, Chisholm and Nicol was commissioned to design it.

The state library had been housed in Hackett Hall since 1915 in what is now part of the WA museum, but was seriously short of space.

Staff and collections were distributed in nine other buildings and office spaces around the CBD when it was decided to build a new home for the state library, the state records and the JS Battye Library of Western Australian history.


"I was a graduate of 12 months when I had come off another job and went on to the project," Mr Broom said.

"I started at the beginning of 1978 on that project so I was a very, very junior graduate."

With no internet available for research, the then state librarian Robert Sharman headed overseas to seek ideas for what the new library needed.

It was the Toronto Reference Library, which opened in 1977, that proved the key piece of inspiration.


The principal design architect on the project was Gil Nicol who chose just two materials for the exterior, pre-cast concrete and glass, creating a striking modern facade.

"He had a great feel for space," Mr Broom said.

"The fact that it steps down allows a lot of light through the atrium into various areas that are mainly the public realm. And it does look fresh."


Kilometres of shelving

Another key part of the brief was space for an ever-growing collection.

"The brief was very complex in terms of all the different areas, the way they had to relate to each other, just holding all the reference books themselves and films and other important stuff," Mr Broom said.


The team kept a close eye on the design to ensure it met its practical requirements while also looking good.

"There were a couple of the very senior guys who kept their eye on that brief just to make sure that what was being designed was in accordance with the aspirations and everything else that was earmarked and outlined in that brief," Mr Broom said.

Behind the scenes at the state library today are 35 kilometres of compact shelving across five floors, and even when the library first opened there was concern that space might run out.

"Originally, it was mentioned that to house all the books by the year 2000 they might've had to have another couple of towers built."

Due to digitisation, that hasn't eventuated, the design is flexible so that spaces can be repurposed.


'Meant to be'

For a young architect it was an exciting start to a career.

"By and large, it was just a fantastic time. We had a lot of fun. I learned fairly quickly," Mr Broom said.

"It has stood the test of time.”


"When I was around there the other day, it still looks like it was meant to be."

After six years of construction the Alexander Library building, named for historian and library board member Fred Alexander, was officially opened on June 18, 1985.

Written by Emma Wynne, ABC News.