New Central Library | Construction

[mellbell416]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

I was referring to Kimberly Jones on twitter who tweeted the Old Tyme Lib'ry pic

So there's actually TWO of us?! Wow, this is epic!

[DizzyEdge]

A gutted Cecil would make a cool little boutique hotel.

[Surrealplaces]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

So after considering the design a bit more, I think I, like some others who commented, was expected a blow me away design which would become the "symbol of Calgary". That said, I think what we got instead is a worthy and great addition to what is shaping up to be a "garden of great design" in the East Village. Think of the analogy that instead of the most amazing sculpture/painting you've ever seen, we're growing an art gallery of great works.

That's a good way to look at it, and I think it's a good way to go. When one tries to make a phenomenal building that is out of this world, you try so hard to be 'out there' that you hit a point where not everyone is going to like it, and may even even turn people off. This building is just a very solid, really well done building in my opinion.
People forget that this also has to be functional too, not just something to look at.

[Deepstar]

Personally, I love it. I wasn't really expecting to be blown away, but rather was expecting a good solid design that would appeal to most people, and be a standout building.

[Deepstar]

I see what you mean from the pic, but I doubt it will look that dark or gray in real life. There's no way the upper area would be that dark when surrounded by a glass wall that large .

Originally Posted by polishavenger

The upper floor here seems very dungeonesque, crappy dank lighting and very low ceiling clearance, more like an old parkade than a welcoming public space.

[Innersoul1]

I have taken a little time to digest and ponder what we have seen and I must say that I am really impressed. I am sad that I missed out on the presentation yesterday. Everything that I have read seems to indicate that Snohetta did a fantastic job of presenting their design and really walking the audience through the design process.

The first image I saw last night was the massing image and I too thought of Noah's Arc, but I reserved judgement. I am glad that I did. I really like how things turned out.

I think that we often have a tendency to want our architechture to stand out, immediatly jump out at the observer (spires, lighting, towers, angles etc.) Often it is the simplicity and the attention to detail that really garners the spotlight. I certainly think this is the case with the new central library. It's a beautiful building, suited the site and functional at an amazing level. I really think that we have a winner!

(my daughter wanted me to sign off with this one)

[fusili]

Originally Posted by mellbell416

So there's actually TWO of us?! Wow, this is epic!

I think Kim just reads, not sure if she posts. But, any relief to this male-dominated forum is very welcome.

[Surrealplaces]

Originally Posted by fusili

I think Kim just reads, not sure if she posts. But, any relief to this male-dominated forum is very welcome.

This Kim?


New Central Library by Render Central, on Flickr

[Innersoul1]

WHAT!? Girls!? We require visual proof.

[mellbell416]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

WHAT!? Girls!? We require visual proof.

Well, I would have thought a tag name like "mellbell416" should have been your first clue...pretty sissy name for a Skyscraper guy...

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

This Kim?


New Central Library by Render Central, on Flickr

Yep

[Spring2008]

White: 'Audacious' architectural concept is deserving of praise

The new Central Library, to be built at 3rd Street S.E. and 7th Avenue in 2018, draws inspiration from a chinook arch, to “allow us to feel the...more
A+
BY RICHARD WHITE, CALGARY HERALD SEPTEMBER 5, 2014
The new central library design team of Snohetta and Dialog, announced in November 2013, has been working to design a building that will capture the imagination of Calgarians and the world. It was a good choice, as Calgary's Dialog team is headed up by Rob Adamson, who was born in Calgary, got his architectural degree from the University of Calgary and has spent his entire career in this city. He can obviously speak to Calgary's sense of place. His projects include the impressive TELUS Spark.

In addition, Fred Valentine, one of Calgary's most respected architects (Nexen building) has also been advising the library board and Calgary Municipal Land Corp. with respect to design issues and opportunities.

Craig Dykers heads up the Snohetta team in New York City. They bring to the table a wealth of international library experience, including the award-winning Biblioteca Alexandria.

The inspiration and rationale for the design of the building unveiled at the Telus Convention Centre on Thursday night is complex. Everything from the curve of the underground LRT tunnel to the Chinook arch were identified as factors influencing the building's conceptual design.

What struck me most when looking at the rendering is that it looks like a boat. At first I thought of a canoe but then it hit me - it looks like the drift boats used by fly fishermen. These boats have flat bottoms with flared sides, a flat bow and pointed stern. They are designed to handle rough water and allow fishermen to stand up even in flowing water.

I was also struck by how similar the proposed building is to the Municipal Building that will run parallel to the new library along 3rd Street S.E. Both are block-long horizontal mid-rise buildings in a downtown dominated by vertical structures. Inside, both buildings will have floor-to-ceiling atriums as their dominant design feature.

The Municipal Building's design is unique, with a stepped facade on the west side and a large flat plaza being an obvious reference to the prairie meeting the foothills.

The flat east facade that wedges a concrete element at ground level against a bold blue glass wall further enhances the metaphor of where the prairies, foothills and mountains meet. Dykers identified our city's unique sense of place as its position between the mountains and the prairies.

There could be a nice "yin and yang" design interaction between the angular Municipal Building and the curved library. There are also links to the design and massing of the new National Music Centre design. The synergies between the three buildings could form a distinctive contemporary streetscape.

The facade of the proposed new library has a repeated geometric pattern in the shape of a house or shed. It creates an obvious scientific, mathematical or engineering visual statement.

This is appropriate as Paul McIntyre Royston, president and CEO of the Calgary Library Foundation, announced the new library will have a research chair - a first for a public library. He spoke of the new library as being an "incubator for research and ideas." He added "all great cities have great libraries" and it was the team's goal to create a great library for Calgarians.

The design team for Calgary's new central library makes no bones about it - they have an "audacious" (their word not mine) vision, "to create the best library in the world."

They were quick to add the best library is not necessarily the best building, but one that is "right for the place and time." Dykers argued, "Libraries are not about the building or the books, but about the people they attract and how they link form and function."

Only time will tell if the concept for Calgary's new downtown library is the right building for Calgary today and into the future.

I like the fact the design is not something twisted, cantilevered or cubist, which seems to be the rage today. The shape and skin is intriguing, there is a sense of playfulness without being silly. The design of Calgary's new Central Library is off to a good start, I hope that as the design evolves it will just keep getting better. Kudos to the library, CMLC and the design team.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/touch/story.html?id=10176924

[fusili]

Originally Posted by mellbell416

Well, I would have thought a tag name like "mellbell416" should have been your first clue...pretty sissy name for a Skyscraper guy...

And fusilli isn't?

[Spring2008]

Originally Posted by Wooster

There are plans to substantially alter the municipal building, particularly to create legible, pleasant and secure pass through along the 8th Avenue alignment. There's just no capital budget to do it at the moment, but it'll happen by necessity at some point.

Really hope this happens soon, connect The Rift and Stephen's, as well as the cultural buildings on both sides.

[Blue_Cypress]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

WHAT!? Girls!? We require visual proof.

...absolutely vacuous.

[Design-mind]

I love the new Library design, and how it interacts at the pedestrian level. Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!

[jsbertram]

My first impression of the interior renders is that someone has an unresolved vaginal fixation, but that would be better discussed in the Freud forum.

Interesting design, but I question locating the theatre right beside the LRT ramp to the tunnel. Not sure how useful the theatre will be with the LRT trains rumbling by every few minutes.

They may have solved this during the design stage, but I won't be surprised that the acoustics tweeking gets deleted at the pre-build cheapening stage, or during construction as they need cost-cutting when someone realizes they are over budget.

Also, how do you get theatre staging gear over /under /around the LRT tracks?
Not a trivial question if this is meant for actual stage performances.


I'm intrigued by the 'little house on the prairie' escher-eque facade, but why not use fanned-open books instead?

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Blue_Cypress

...absolutely vacuous.

You remind me of a dour high school Chemistry teacher I had with absolutely no sense of humour. Quit taking everything so seriously.

[jsbertram]

Just noticed in the renders that there isn't a Plus15 connection to City Hall or other nearby buildings.
Oversight?

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

My first impression of the interior renders is that someone has an unresolved vaginal fixation, but that would be better discussed in the Freud forum.

Interesting design, but I question locating the theatre right beside the LRT ramp to the tunnel. Not sure how useful the theatre will be with the LRT trains rumbling by every few minutes.

They may have solved this during the design stage, but I won't be surprised that the acoustics tweeking gets deleted at the pre-build cheapening stage, or during construction as they need cost-cutting when someone realizes they are over budget.

Also, how do you get theatre staging gear over /under /around the LRT tracks?
Not a trivial question if this is meant for actual stage performances.


I'm intrigued by the 'little house on the prairie' escher-eque facade, but why not use fanned-open books instead?

Not everything need be literal. We already know it's a library.