Library Buildings around the World

"It sort of reminds me of a pile of books, and lobster crates thrown on top of each other," resident Joe Jollymore, said of the design,
Thursday. "So, it almost brings that feeling of that's what our community is, part of our history."
It will be a glass building with an open concept, dotted with meeting spaces, gaming stations, and a lot of books — 50 per cent more
than are in the old library that it's replacing.
It's a design the public helped create along the way. The architects held a series of public meetings to get input into what the library
should look like.
"I like seeing the transition of how all of our ideas were changed into what it looks like tonight," Hillary Webb said.
Others are taking more of a wait-and-see attitude toward the new library.
"You know, the old library had a personality to it. I just think it will take time to get used to the new design," Teresa Wooshue said.
Project director George Cotaras said the major components of the design have now been decided.
"At the last public meeting, we showed an extreme opposite of that, where things were very much aligned," he said. "We got a
reaction to that saying, 'No, no, we like the twist; we want it back.' So now we've twisted it back a little bit, but not to the extreme
that it was before."
With big decisions such as overall design out of the way, Cotaras said there will just be some tweaking over such things as colour and
furniture.
The library is expected to open in 2014.
The building is being designed by a collaboration of architects from Fowler Bauld & Mitchell Ltd. of Halifax, and Denmark's
schmidt hammer lassen architects. 05.11.10 (http://www.cbc.ca)
Citadel High School, School Library, Halifax, NS – Canada 2007
Value: $25 Million
Description:
The winner of an architectural design competition, Citadel High School was designed to replace two existing high schools in
downtown Halifax. At the foot of historic Citadel Hill, it occupies one of the most significant sites on the peninsula and has many
unique features. These include a modern, curving west facade, transparency through to and into the three main components of the
school (academic, arts and athletic), exposed steel in the classrooms permitted by a performance-based code solution evaluated by
computer modeled fire simulations, steam from the adjacent QEII Hospital complex as the source of heating, and other energy and
water saving features. Opening September 2007 and LEED Silver certified, the three story building also includes an additional
community gymnasium and the shell for a 900 seat theatre. (Fowler)
The design for the new Central Library in Halifax, Canada was recently revealed at the fifth public consultation meeting. At this last
public consultation meeting in the design phase of the Halifax Central Library, the architects identified the trends from all four of
the prior public meetings and showed how the building design has responded to the users’ ideas.
The 45 million Canadian dollars (€ 33 million) Central Library in the Canadian port city of Halifax, Nova Scotia will have a clear
Canadian reference as well as a detectable Scandinavian design heritage as the winning team behind the design is the Canadian
architectural practice Fowler Bauld & Mitchell and Danish schmidt hammer lassen architects. In March 2010, Fowler Bauld &
Mitchell and schmidt hammer lassen architects won the international competition to design Halifax Central Library. ”In the design
process we have been particular keen on reflecting the spirit of the local community as well as the ‘genus loci’ of the site making
Halifax Central Library unique in many ways. We believe that Halifax Central Library will become a landmark cultural hub for the
community,” said Morten Schmidt, Founding Partner at schmidt hammer lassen architects.
At this point, Fowler Bauld & Mitchell and schmidt hammer lassen architects enter four months of Design Development, with a final
public presentation and unveiling of the final detail design in March/April 2011. Breaking ground is scheduled for mid 2011 and the
library is due for completion in early 2014.
schmidt hammer lassen architects works with libraries across all scales from branch libraries and central libraries to university
libraries. The practice is renowned for the extension of The Royal Library in Copenhagen, Denmark, and has also designed
Halmstad Library and the extension of Växjö Library in Sweden. Ongoing library projects include The University of Aberdeen New
Library in Scotland, UK, The Urban Mediaspace, Scandinavia’s biggest public library, in Aarhus, Denmark and the new Highlands
Library for Edmonton Public Libraries in Alberta, Canada. 13.01.11 (http://www.bustler.net)
Dalhouse University, Dalhousie Computer Science Building, Halifax, NS –Canda 1999
Size: 73,000 sq.ft.
Awards:
2000 Faculty of Computer Science Building, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS | Citation
Description:
Winner of a Lieutenant Governor's Award for Architecture in 2000, this 73,000 sq. ft. building for the Faculty of Computer Science,
was completed in August 1999 utilizing fast-track construction management procedures. The contemporary design is unique for its
five story atrium and exterior walls clad with zinc panels on a highly energy-efficient curtain wall system. As an innovative, flexible
and efficient, high performance learning environment, the building is demonstrative of a supportive work environment. With high
levels of natural light, abundant internet connection ports and an open, welcoming atmosphere, it has become a learning place of
choice for students within and outside the faculty. Green and energy efficient features include operable windows, in-floor radiant
heat in the atrium to reduce the ambient temperature, a sport cooling strategy for the atrium to provide maximum effect where best
suited, a water source heat pump system, low energy lighting systems and controls, low water consumption w.c. fixtures and handsfree
controls at sinks. The robust, exposed concrete structure is used for thermal mass to reduce peak cooling and heating loads.
This commission was shared by Brian MacKay-Lyons Architecture Urban Design and Fowler Bauld & Mitchell Ltd. Mackay-Lyons
was responsible for design while Fowler Bauld & Mitchell prepared all construction documents and provided full site services. FBM
coordinated the work in close partnership with the construction manager to meet fast-track construction schedules and budgets. Five
tender packages were prepared in order to accelerate the schedule and meet the university's target date for completion. (Fowler)
Walter Francl Architecture, Inc., Vancouver, BC – Canada
http://www.franclarchitecture.com
Libraries:
John Richard Allison Library, Regent College, University of British Columbia, Vancouver – Canda 2007
Mention solar energy and people often think of individual roof-mounted panels. Mention stained glass and people think of
traditional windows in churches. Not too many people would think to combine them, but artist Sarah Hall has done this and
more, with the first stained glass installation in North America to utilize solar cells. The stained glass is the central element of a wind
tower that will complete a new $10 million, 28,000 square foot theology library at Regent College on the University of British
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