Library Buildings around the World

eading rooms at each floor bring 650 new student seats into daylight and provide views to the landscape and the city. Book stacks
are consolidated in the relatively windowless interior. A new continuous stair between the existing facade and the new wing provides
a clear, visible connection between all five floors. This design adds only 11 per cent to the area of the library but creates a 70 per cent
increase in student places, a 50 per cent increase in collection space and a 20 per cent expansion in staff accommodation. (Diamond)
dp.Ai see. David Premi
Dub Architects, Edmonton, AB – Canada
http://www.dubarchitects.ca
Libraries :
Edmonton Public Libraries, Mill Woods Library, Seniors and Multicultural Centre, Edmonton, AB –
Canada 2014
joint venture with Hughes Condon Marler, Vancouver BC (http://www.hcma.ca)
Location
The new Mill Woods Library, Seniors and Multicultural Centre will be situated in the immediate vicinity of the Mill Woods Town
Centre and Mill Woods Transit Centre. The new library is planned to be in the order of 25,000 square feet, almost double the size of
its current location (approx. 12,800 square feet). Expected completion date is Summer 2014.
Currently the Mill Woods Branch is the only library branch serving residents in the City’s southeast, defined as the area south of 63
Avenue/Argyll Road and east of Gateway Boulevard.
Statistics
In 2010, the Mill Woods Branch was the second most visited EPL branch with nearly 633,000 visitors (a 5.6% increase over 2009).
Items borrowed from the Mill Woods Branch increased by 19% during this time with over 1.2 million items borrowed in 2010
ranking it third among all EPL branches. The Mill Woods Branch serves an area of about 84,800 people.
Diversity
Mill Woods is a culturally diverse community, with many residents speaking languages other than Canada’s two official languages of
English and French. The 2006 federal census shows that non-official languages are the mother tongue of 29% of the target area’s
residents, as compared to 26% of Edmonton residents. As well, 17% of the Mill Woods Branch service area’s population speaks a
non-official language most often at home, which is higher than the City figure of 13%. The 2006 Canada census data also indicates
that compared to Edmonton as a whole, the residential neighborhoods of the Mill Woods Branch service area have a higher
percentage of immigrants, with 28% of the population having been born outside Canada, as compared to 23% for the City of
Edmonton.
The Mill Woods Branch works collaboratively with Mill Woods agencies and organizations to provide programs and services that
meet identified needs, particularly those of newcomers and immigrants of all ages. (http://www.epl.ca/about-epl/building-projects)
This project involves the design and construction of a new Library, Seniors Centre and Multicultural facility. Set within the context
of suburban malls and big box retail, the new building announces its civic presence by dramatically revealing the functions though a
sculptural interior space. The building is designed such that public areas of the library act as « carved » spaces within the larger
structure, with support spaces hidden within the « solid » portions of the building´s form. The material expression of the concept
further emphasizes the contrasting spacial characteristics. Translucent portions of the building contrast with the public spaces that
are light in colour, creating bright, airy multi-storey public spaces and reading rooms. (Dub)
Jasper Place Branch Library, Edmonton, AB – Canada 2012
The new Jasper Place Branch Library design reflects the Edmonton Public Library’s aspirations to create an open and memorable
presence in the community. The design attempts to satisfy the following:
• A sustainable building that fulfills present and future library needs and uses.
• A welcoming space that acts as an inclusive designation for all demographics of the community.
• A flexible space that will be able to accommodate future reorganizations of the collection and reading areas.
• A distinctive building that announces its unique role in the neighborhood as a place for public use.
SITE DESCRIPTION
The Jasper Place Library’s role in the neighborhood landscape has changed over time. Originally the library prominently faced a
large shopping mall parking lot. Over the years, a fire-hall was added to the north side of the site, and the mall has since undergone
expansion, partial demolition, and partial replacement with medium-density condominiums. The current library itself has been
renovated and expanded several times to the current size of 10,700 sq ft, and caters to a diverse demographic of approximately
38,500 people. In recent years, the number of users has grown, increasing demands on the facility. Reassessment determined that the
library required expansion to 15,000 sq ft, as well as a redesign to suit the library’s latest objectives. A building audit was conducted
to compare expanding the existing facility, which has continuing structural problems, with constructing a new facility to replace the
existing one. Evaluation concluded that a new facility would best serve the needs of the library and community.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project consists of a new 15,000 sq ft library at the intersection of 90th Avenue and Meadowlark Road. Fronting onto 90th Ave,
the library primarily consists of a large public space over two levels. The ground is occupied by most of the staff functions, as well as
a double-height reading room consisting of book stacks and reading areas. This public area extends above the staff area to a
mezzanine level overlooking the central space. Stairs (some of which are designed to double as reading spaces or an amphitheatre)
are located at the ends of the mezzanine to form a continuous loop for patrons to circulate. An elevator is also provided as an option.
A publicly-accessible outdoor terrace is featured on mezzanine level at the south side of the building. An undulating concrete roof
structure with metal cladding covers the building footprint, and descends on the east and west. Glazing is predominantly used on the
north and south facades, overlooking landscaping to the north and the entrance plaza to the south. Washrooms and the Community
Room (used for library programs as well as by the community at large) are located adjacent to the entrance, so they may be used
independently after library hours. Mechanical and electrical rooms are located on a basement level below the staff areas. On-site
parking for library and fire-hall staff, as well as some public parking, has been provided along 156 Street on the east side of the site.
The majority of public parking is located on the street along 90th Avenue.
DESIGN EXCELLENCE
The design was in part inspired by the original 1961 Modernist design of the Jasper Place Library, and that period when the
community was growing. The project will express civic pride, and celebrate structural honesty with distinctive roofscapes and strong
profiles set against the prairie sky and surrounding trees. The proposed design attempts to utilize the library and community
facilities to give the larger Meadowlark Community a distinctive landmark distinguishing it from other communities in the city.
While the form of the building distinguishes it from the surroundings, it does so by working with the particular qualities and
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