1 / Canada CALGARY CENTRAL LIBRARY

Canada’s fourth-largest metropolitan area has been given a civic boost, thanks to the November debut of a landmark by acclaimed American-Norwegian studio Snøhetta and design specialists Dialog. The curving, sharp-edged structure soars over a light rail line, its sleek white exterior adorned with cut-out hexagonal patterns suggestive of snowflakes and open books. Bibliophiles will find the largely timber-clad interiors warm and welcoming, with room for 450,000 titles and spaces organized on a spectrum of “fun” to “serious.”