Toronto, Ontario

Program: A three-level public library that extends the original neoclassical library building from 1912 with a 12,000-square-foot addition, for a total of 25,000 square feet. The expanded library includes spaces for the main collection and the children's collection, a teen area, a computer learning center, two reading rooms and a reading atrium, a multipurpose room, staff offices, and a children's courtyard.

Design concept and solution: RDH Architects wanted to set up a clear contrast between the existing brick library and the addition, and to make the building fully accessible for handicapped patrons. To set off the heavy masonry of the original, the architects conceived the addition as an unadorned glass box. Tempered glass partition walls help the structure seem almost transparent, putting the program within—and the original library—on display. The entrance remains at the front of the existing building, but RDH dropped it from the first floor to ground level. Instead of ascending six feet to the first floor, patrons can now descend two feet via steps or ramps. The architects cut away the central part of the first floor, giving the new ground-floor entrance a triple-height atrium. To create clear sight lines throughout the old library, they replaced some of the walls with tempered glass partitions and reduced others to columns surrounded by tempered glass. Interior fixtures such as stainless steel handrails and anodized aluminum air vents round out the minimalist palette.

Architect:
RDH Architects Inc.
225 Richmond Street West
Suite 201 Toronto
Ontario, Canada, M5V 1W2    
Tel: 416 204 1399
Fax: 416 204 1321

Location: 1101 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Completion Date: July 2009

Total construction cost: $8 million

People

Owner: Toronto Public Library

Architect
RDH Architects Inc.
225 Richmond Street West
Suite 201 Toronto
Ontario, Canada, M5V 1W2    
Tel: 416 204 1399
Fax: 416 204 1321

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:
TYLER SHARP (ASSOCIATE, PROJECT DESIGNER – RDH)
BOB GOYECHE (PARTNER - RDH)
GRAHAM GAVINE (PROJECT MANAGER – RDH)
GERRY SHOALTS (PARTNER – SHOALTS AND ZABACK )

Associate architect(s)
SHOALTS AND ZABACK ARCHITECTS LTD.
ERA ARCHITECTS INC.

Interior designer:

Engineer(s):
HALSALL ASSOCIATES LTD (STRUCTURAL DESIGN)
JAIN ASSOCIATES LTD (MECH AND ELEC)
VALDOR ENGINEERING INC (CIVIL ENGINEERS)

Consultant(s)
Landscape: NAK DESIGN

General contractor
PRE-ENG CONTRACTING LTD.

Photographer(s)
TOM ARBAN (EMAIL) INFO@TOMARBAN.COM (TEL) 416 566 9409
STEVEN EVANS (EMAIL) STEVEN.EVANS@SYMPATICO.CA

CAD system, project management, or other software used
AUTOCAD

 

Products

Exterior cladding
Masonry: LIMEN GROUP

Metal/glass curtainwall: STOUFVILLE GLASS, ALUMICOR and PROGRAM LTD porcelain metal panels

Concrete: Yukon

Wood: Second Generation Millwork

Roofing
Built-up roofing: Dufferin Roofing, Tremco

Windows
Wood: Second Generation Millwork

Aluminum: Alumicor, Stoufville Glass

Glazing
Glass: Stoufville Glass

Doors
Entrances: CR Laurence

Metal doors: Flemming

Sliding doors: Kawneer

Hardware
Closers: CR Laurence

Pulls: CR Laurence

Cabinet hardware: Richelieu

Interior finishes
Acoustical ceilings: Dacoustics

Suspension grid: Armstrong Techzone

Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: Second Generation

Paints and stains: Benjamin Moore

Special surfacing: Dupont Corian

Floor and wall tile: Stone Tile in washrooms

Carpet: Interface Carpet Tile

Furnishings
Chairs: Kielhauer, Knoll

Upholstery: Maharam

Lighting
Interior ambient lighting: Birchwood Lighting, Rainbow Lighting, Bartco Lighting

Conveyance
Elevators/Escalators: Kone

Plumbing
Haws fountains