Calgary’s ‘library of the future’ wins praise from Architectural Digest — again
Calgary ’s new Central Library has been lauded for its unique design and innovative features by Architectural Digest for the second time.
In December of 2017, the publication called the new Central Library one of the most anticipated buildings of 2018.
And now that the library has been open for a little over a month, Architectural Digest is once again singing the building’s praises as one of the “libraries of the future.”
Other innovative libraries on the list include the Helsinki Central Library in Helsinki, Finland, and the Qatar National Library in Doha, Qatar.
The library was designed by Calgary-based architects DIALOG and Swedish designers Snøhetta, and the digest applauded the firms for incorporating “design forward” features — such as an interlocking hexagonal facade and an entryway inspired by Alberta’s chinook arches.
The 250,000-square-foot, fourstorey structure’s interior features an open concept, which is inviting for guests, while a blue and white “curtain wall” exterior made of 460 glass panels is meant to reflect the light and colour of Calgary’s skyline.
At the northwest corner, the building ’s prow — or the portion of a ship’s bow over the water — juts over the mouth of a tunnel encasing the north-south LRT line, making the site challenging but also a driving force behind the unique design.
CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
Before the library’s grand opening in November, Rob Adamson with DIALOG told Postmedia the design team worked to create a building that would serve Calgarians “for generations to come.”
Snøhetta’s Craig Dykers told the digest “the city has opened a new door into a future” for the library “that banks on a culture of creativity and innovation.”
A library card offers access to more than 500,000 items at the new Central Library, but there are also many non-traditional features at the new location, including video-editing suites, recording booths and video game stations.
There’s even an impressive collection of board games, and the library’s teen centre has a modern yet futuristic feel to draw in both bookworms and tech-minded youths.
Planning for the new Central Library began in 2004 when council committed $40 million to the project.
Council committed an additional $135 million to the library from Calgary ’s Community Investment Fund in 2011, followed by a Calgary Municipal Land Corp. contribution of $70 million for a total project cost of $245 million