The University’s Alumni Relations Team is hosting an historical lecture and book launch to celebrate the centenary of the Liver Buildings and its iconic birds.
This year, the city is also marking a century of radicalism in Liverpool, and the Liver Building was an example of radical architecture when completed in 1911. It became Britain’s first skyscraper and one of the first reinforced concrete framed buildings in the world.
Opened the same year, the building is the purpose-built home of the Royal Liver Assurance group, which had been set up in the city in 1850 to provide locals with assistance related to losing a wage-earning relative. The Royal Liver Building stands at 90 metre tall and was, until the construction of St John’s Beacon in 1965, the tallest building in the city.
Held on Monday 23 May at 5.30pm in the Royal Liver Building, members of the public will be given rare access to the famous building to hear about the changing nature of Liverpool’s transport and architectural heritage throughout the last century.
The lecture will be given by Dr Martin Jenkins (BA 1961, Hon LittD 2006) and Sir Neil Cossons (BA Hons Geography 1961, MA 1969, Hon LittD 1989) who have jointly written Liverpool: Seaport City, a book which presents long forgotten images of the city, its buildings and street scenes, and explores its transport and industrial history.
They will be joined by Peter de Figueiredo, an historic buildings advisor, who has worked on the historic buildings of the North West for more than 30 years.
All staff, alumni and their guests are welcome to purchase tickets for the lecture and book launch, which will be followed by a drinks reception. Tickets cost £10 per person and guests are invited to redeem their ticket for a £5 discount off the book on the night.
For further information, please contact Karen Billington, Stewardship and Events Manager, on karen.billington@liverpool.ac.uk, call +44 (0)151 794 2280 or visit the website.