Library Buildings around the World

library in the winter months. The facility includes fully networked public areas, a large childcare area, study and lounge areas, as
well as a community room. The building can be experienced at both the city and the regional levels, as one enters the library through
its two entrances. On the urban street front, entry to the building is along the pedestrian-scaled stone wall, while the main entrance
passes below and through the highway-scaled curved zinc wall. One's experience of the building shifts from the city to the highway,
from stasis to a dynamic space from which the flow of traffic is constantly in view. Daylighting is the principle means of achieving
energy savings in the project. Translucent glazing systems are utilized throughout the building. These are punctuated by clear bay
windows that cut through the facades creating localized views at reading areas and carrels. The principal building materials include
black natural stone, brick, and zinc cladding. Natural, low VOC materials including linoleum floors have been utilized throughout
the interior. Gross square footage: 25,000 sq ft, Total construction cost: $2.29 million ( http://www.archrecord.construction.com )
Preston Branch Library, Preston, ON – Canada 2000
Awards:
Ontario Library Association Award, City of Cambridge Urban Design Award
This project involved extensive renovations and additions to an existing branch library in downtown Cambridge, Ontario. Care was
taken to provide the library with a strong urban presence and a more inviting entrance, including a sculpture forecourt and a large
entrance canopy extending to the sidewalk. Additional public service space, staff areas, as well as dedicated gallery space and
children’s program rooms were created. The building was revitalized through the combination of Canadian stone, glass tile and
western red cedar. The firm also designed integrated custom furniture for the branch, including computer work stations,
information kiosks and shelf display units. (Teeple)
Barton Branch Library, Hamilton, ON – Canada 1999
An existing 10,000 sq. ft. library constructed in 1961, has been completely renovated and updated. The building has been
transformed into a welcoming branch library, complete with updated information technology and full accessibility. A new sloped
ceiling was installed to accommodate new lighting and ductwork, which also emphasized the existing wood roof structure. Our firm
planned and coordinated all new furnishings for this branch. (Teeple)
ZAS Architects, Toronto,ON, Vancouver, BC - Canada
http://www.zasa.com
Libraries:
University of Waterloo, Stratford Campus, Digital Media Lab, Waterloo, ON – Canada 2012
Capital Costs: $ 13.000.000
Project Description
The University of Waterloo at Stratford (Waterloo Stratford Campus) will be a leading innovator in undergraduate and graduate
instruction, new media research and industry-academic-creative collaboration. The campus, to be built on a key site in downtown
Stratford, is intended to be accessible to the public and to combine learning, research and commercialization initiatives. The first
building for Waterloo Stratford Campus will house instructional, research, and team collaborative spaces. It will be the heart of a
new campus, growing quickly to include conference facilities and a commercial incubator. It will emphasize digital media, content
creation, project-based learning and technologically-enabled collaboration. Waterloo Stratford Campus is intended to be a global
institution, engaging both virtually and through on site conferences with advanced partners around the world. The Waterloo
Stratford Campus must model through its teaching and research approaches, its public profile, its collaborative/team culture and its
facilities the latest thinking about the engagement of the academy with its community---government, business, the arts; locally,
nationally and internationally. In brief, it is intended to bring together the very best characteristics of the University of Waterloo
and embed them in a campus designed from the outset to serve the needs of students and researchers in the 21st Century.
The facility is to provide spaces for teaching, and research for the UW Digital Media Program. The programs will operate with
partnerships from business, government and the university.
Participants from all three areas of partnership will be represented through technical expertise sharing, influence on program
direction, supporting project specific research, and funding. Participation from the outside community is expected, in the form of
events, conferences, and displays.
Users:
The facilities primary users will be students, faculty and staff from the University of Waterloo. Contributing to the program will be
technology partners, outside consultants, collaborators and lectures. It is expected that this facility will grow to provide space for
approximately 300 students and 35 faculty and staff members.
The students and researchers will work within classrooms, project rooms, meeting rooms and collaboration spaces. The media lab
functions will be supported by administrative and technical functions. Educational activities in the facility will include traditional
classroom functions, group project work, independent project work, research, interaction with outside experts, and non traditional
classroom functions. The facilities will also host conferences, exhibits and community outreach programs. To accommodate the wide
variety of users and activities the atrium / exhibit space, classrooms, project rooms, and offices will be considered multipurpose.
The project will accommodate the programmatic elements on three floors in one building. These elements are as follows:
Office Space (on all three stories)
Classroom, Project Rooms, Collaboration Space (on all three stories)
Event Space (on first storey)
Mechanical Penthouse
The construction and facility shall be registered with the Canada Green Building Council’s LEED Canada NC 2009 Green Building
Rating System in the New Construction category and achieve a certification level of Silver. (ZAS)
Milton Performing Arts Centre/Central Library, Milton, ON – Canada 2012
Client: Town of Milton, Size: 82,000 sqf.
ZAS provided concept design/bridging services leading towards the design-build development of a new performing arts/visual arts
centre and central library in this high-growth suburban community. Located at a prominent intersection, our concept design
capitalizes on its’ gateway location to create a substantial and powerful Civic Campus for its citizens. To realize the potential of the
site, our building design is conceived as a series of public rooms linked by an open and transparent Civic Lobby that engages this
corner site. The openness of this lobby is symbolic and highly functional, providing a major assembly space that all building
entrances converge upon. The centerpiece is a 500-seat theatre designed in the classical “shoebox” proportion, resulting in a
functional, yet memorable room, and supported by outstanding acoustics within the chamber. Visual arts programs straddle both
49