Halifax Central Library | 27 m | 6 fl | Completed

[Keith P.]

Not surprisingly, there is a major stink brewing over the "jury" that is overseeing the selection and their qualifications. Brian MacKay Lyons issued a blistering attack on the process in allnovascotia.com on Monday and claimed that the jury was not qualified to make such a decision. The head of the Dal School of Architecture was on the news Monday night lamenting the fact that nobody from there was asked to participate. To the surprise of nobody, it is sounding more and more like this is yet another orchestration of the process by Judith Hare to ensure that she gets what she wants, not what is necessarily what the city needs. This needs to be stopped and a proper process instituted.

[Jonovision]

It's interesting. I am currently reading Dream City a book about the history of Vancouver's urban history. And I just read about the horrible process that they went through to get their library in the early 90's. I'm praying we end up with something good. I am very surprised to hear that no one for Dalhousie Architecture is on the selection committee.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

It's interesting. I am currently reading Dream City a book about the history of Vancouver's urban history. And I just read about the horrible process that they went through to get their library in the early 90's. I'm praying we end up with something good. I am very surprised to hear that no one for Dalhousie Architecture is on the selection committee.

Halifax based Architects will cheapen the design and it will be an economy structure not unlike P3 schools or Citadel high at best.

[Jonovision]

Originally Posted by Empire

Halifax based Architects will cheapen the design and it will be an economy structure not unlike P3 schools or Citadel high at best.

Which is sad, I think we deserve something better. Citadel High is alright. But nothing truly noteworthy.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Empire

Halifax based Architects will cheapen the design and it will be an economy structure not unlike P3 schools or Citadel high at best.

That is the result of low-tender policies, not a proper design competition. The problem here is that this is not that either, but instead appears to reek of more Judith Hare cronyism.

[cormiermax]

Who is this Judith Hare?

[spaustin]

Originally Posted by cormiermax

Who is this Judith Hare?

Keith's nemesis

Invole Dal don't involve Dal, that's a fair decision either way. Dal was involved on the public art competition for the Trillium and look how that turned out. Dal doesn't have a monopoly on good design. What was Lyons complaint with the process? Why is the current jury unqualified? There is always someone who will bitch, but I'm interested to know what the complaint is and if it amounts to more than "I wasn't invited."

[hfx_chris]

Originally Posted by cormiermax

Who is this Judith Hare?

CEO of Halifax Public Libraries, and somebody kp can't stop talking about like a freaking broken record...

[JET]

There was someone on CBC this AM speaking about the architect search for the library and he suggested putting the library in the current world trade and convention centre, once the new one is built. a modest proposal. JET

[sdm]

Originally Posted by JET

There was someone on CBC this AM speaking about the architect search for the library and he suggested putting the library in the current world trade and convention centre, once the new one is built. a modest proposal. JET

Classic.

If Kelly would stop spending like a freak and concentrate on a vision for the city maybe we could get things to happen.

As always expressed, i believe we simply expand the existing trade centre and build a new metro Centre and a new libary.

Why we need two trade centres, then two metro centres is beyond me.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Originally Posted by sdm

Classic.

If Kelly would stop spending like a freak and concentrate on a vision for the city maybe we could get things to happen.

As always expressed, i believe we simply expand the existing trade centre and build a new metro Centre and a new libary.

Why we need two trade centres, then two metro centres is beyond me.

I can't see how we'll find the cash for both a new Metro Centre and a new convention centre and a new library. The provincial government looks to be going into chopping mode, which IMO puts the conventional centre as a little doubtful but we'll see.

Can anyone explain the need for a new Metro Centre? When was the last time the existing building sold out? When Sidney Crosby played for Rimouski 4 years ago? CIS basketball final with X or SMU seven or eight years ago? Do we really need more than 10,000 seats? Personally I think its a good facility that could benefit from some renovations.

[Wishblade]

Originally Posted by Halifax Hillbilly

I can't see how we'll find the cash for both a new Metro Centre and a new convention centre and a new library. The provincial government looks to be going into chopping mode, which IMO puts the conventional centre as a little doubtful but we'll see.

Can anyone explain the need for a new Metro Centre? When was the last time the existing building sold out? When Sidney Crosby played for Rimouski 4 years ago? CIS basketball final with X or SMU seven or eight years ago? Do we really need more than 10,000 seats? Personally I think its a good facility that could benefit from some renovations.

its simple. a new venue equals better facilities, and a larger seating capacity generally means larger events can be held there, thus filling more seats.

And the metro centre actually sells out quite a bit for events.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by Wishblade

its simple. a new venue equals better facilities, and a larger seating capacity generally means larger events can be held there, thus filling more seats.

And the metro centre actually sells out quite a bit for events.

However, they are talking about a 12,000 - 15,000 seat facility (this was in the call for proposals). This isn't going to benefit the Mooseheads since their owner Bobby Smith already said that they don't need a larger Metro Centre to play in. So going to a bigger facility might mean a few extra concerts. However, if they are planning to spend $150 million then why not go much bigger and have an enclosed stadium with 30,000 bench style seats that will allow for events that even a new Metro Centre won't be able to host; large concerts for example (maybe get U2 to come to Halifax since they would be able to pack at least 40,000 into such a facility). And why not build it so that it can be a convention hall also (example AlamoDome). Now I have said that I don't really want a dome however, an enclosed stadium with lots of large windows for natural lighting would change my mind. This really would complement the Metro Centre whereas having the Metro Centre and a new Metro Centre will do little for Halifax. The only way this would make since would be if Halifax was going for an NHL team which it really isn't ready for.

Sorry, this has nothing to do with the new library. I will post this in the new stadium section.

[Keith P.]

A surprisingly well-researched and well-written article on the flawed architectural decision process has been produced by Bousquet of the Coast:

http://www.thecoast.ca/RealityBites/archives/2009/11/20/how-do-we-get-a-good-library-design

It is a lengthy article and also includes some audio files of interviews. However, I think this captures the essence of Lyons' complaint:

MacKay-Lyons’ complaint

Without having access to the evaluation documents, MacKay-Lyons’ concerns did not raise much beyond the “there’s something fishy here” stage.

The procurement committee consisted of Judith Hare and Susan McLean, CEO and deputy CEO, respectively, of the Halifax Library; Andy Filmore, project manager for HRM By Design; and Terry Gallagher, an architect whose primary job for the city is as project manager for various construction projects.

MacKay-Lyons doesn’t fault the inclusion of library professionals on the committee, and he has respect for Filmore and Gallagher, but says they don’t have the expertise that is required for the project.

“The people making the decisions should be knowledgeable about the complete range of issues that are relevant,” he says. “So, most cities in Canada, if they’re going to do a building of this sort---like in Montreal, they just built a wonderful library. They had a jury that, for sure, included librarians, but was also peer-juried.

..

Both in his interview with CBC and in conversation with me, MacKay-Lyons suggests that Judith Hare has a personal desire in seeing that HOK, is selected as the architect for the new library.

HOK was awarded the most recent two architectural contracts the library issued---for design of the Keshen Goodman Library in Clayton Park and for a “space study” for what would be required for the new central library. The space study might be relevant---for a building that has yet to move past the conceptual stage, the expression of interest has an interesting particular requirement for square footage: exactly 108,896 square feet. Make of that what you will.

MacKay-Lyons is quick to say he doesn’t want to be accused of “sour grapes” for not being selected. He certainly doesn’t need the money---his firm has plenty of work, including designing Canadian embassies. His intent in going public with his concerns, he says, is that he wants the best building for Halifax.

This is pretty damning stuff. This evaluation process should be scuttled, a new committee put in place with different players, and the whole thing re-scored.

[BravoZulu]

108,896 sq ft.....that does seem fishy, and also explains why my 108,897 sq ft proposal was rejected.

Seriously I've never seen request for proposals that specific unless they had a particular bidder in mind, i mean would it have been hard to say 108,900 or maybe even 109,000?

[Jonovision]

I finally just read that full article online and it is really well done. I'm torn. I really want something truly unique and iconic for this city and I think it should have a bit of local flair to it's design (NOT LIGHT HOUSES!!!!!) so the inclusion of local architects is good. But I really like to see all the different options a full design competition can offer. I know we didn't end up with a good end result for the Trillium design competition, but it put a lot of ideas out there and got people thinking about what could happen.

I'd like to see a process that involved an international design competition and then a public evaluation of the designs received, the final design might not be in that lot received, but lots of good design ideas would be offered and maybe some of those pulled together in a final product. This way the public could really see what is possible for that site.

[Takeo]

I don't know why... but for some reason... Brian Mackay... by far the most successful, well-known and most-published Architect in the city... doesn't qualify to compete. Ridiculous. Sad that he's doing his best work now in places like Toronto and Bangladesh.

[JET]

"HOK was awarded the most recent two architectural contracts the library issued---for design of the Keshen Goodman Library in Clayton Park... "

I never liked the Keshen library, looks too much like a bus shelter. JET

[hfx_chris]

I've never seen a bus shelter that big before...

[JET]

Originally Posted by hfx_chris

I've never seen a bus shelter that big before...

Depends on how close you stand near it; and squinting, squinting helps. JET