Login
Registered users
The design concept for this project began with an understanding of the context, specifically, the existing post-modern architecture that houses the collection. The first part of the design process involved drawing, analyzing, and understanding this rather heavy-handed example of post-modernism. This process helped us to develop a respect and appreciation for the found condition but also an understanding of its limitations as a public building. This lead to an aspiration to radically alter the interior environments, and to affect change to the exterior by way of a series of contemporary, light, glazed and glowing interventions that help to project a new vision and user experience for this important civic institution.
The voting session is closed
The Mississauga central library is a major renovation and addition project located in the city’s downtown core area adjacent to the city hall. Mississauga is a large bedroom city located immediately west of Toronto, Canada, with a population of 713,000. The central library is used not only for library services, but also houses the central administration and logistic support to all 17 branch libraries throughout the city. The scope of the project is to provide design services for a complete interior renovation to all five floors of the existing building and the construction of a 5000 square foot glazed addition at the highest level. The aspiration was to transform this tired central library facility into a vibrant and contemporary public institution.
Likely the most significant sustainable feature of the project is that the existing building was restored and adapted to avoid demolition of a large institutional structure. This fact alone extended the life of many high energy materials and systems to be maintaned rather then ending up in a landfill.
Further sustainable intiatives for this project include: use of new triple glazed curtain wall; use of custom cermaic frit patterns on glazing to reduce solar heat gan and glare; use of low v.o.c. Materials throughout; use of locally available materials throughout; integration of daylight harvesting sensors; use of relfective white tpo roof membranes to reduce the urban heat island effect; and use of occupant sensors for heating and cooling.
The new facility features a new technology-focused digital hub at the lowest level that includes facilities for events, lectures and seminars. The other levels of the library will feature public-facing collections; a library cafe; flexible event space; bookable classrooms and meeting areas; an automatic book sortation system; quiet study rooms for different sized groups; teen area; children and family areas; a municipal business enterprise center; gallery exhibition space; the refurbished Noel Ryan Auditorium; bookable community classrooms; and flexible areas for open study, as well as the administrative spaces needed to run the other libraries within the city; and collaborative, multi generational digital and manual maker spaces.
The resulting design implements a new geometric language and material vocabulary throughout and opens up floor plates to perceptually unify two formerly separated atrium spaces so that they function as one, bringing light, experience and legible connection to all levels of the building. The process and resolution felt like a design dialogue between an aging post-modern language and a new minimal, contemporary, and modern dialect.
RDHA is a Toronto-based studio specializing in architecture for the public realm. Originally founded in 1919, the firm has a wide-ranging body of work, encompassing libraries and cultural buildings, community and recreation facilities, operations centres, transit facilities, post-secondary education facilities, secure buildings, corporate and institutional office buildings, and additions and renovations to heritage structures. In the past ten years RDHA has focused on producing intelligent, concept driven architecture of the highest caliber. The firm now feels and acts like an emerging design studio, while our 100-year legacy provides a solid backbone of technical and managerial experience. Consequently, we have re-emerged as one of Canada's most acclaimed design firms, winning more than 50 major provincial, national and international awards - most notably three Governor General's Medals and the 2018 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) Firm of the Year Award.
