Future home of new Ottawa central library dedicated

OTTAWA — The future home of a joint facility shared by the Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada was officially dedicated in a ceremony held recently with dignitaries unveiling a sign designating the site at the corner of Albert and Commissioner streets.

In 2017, city council and the Ottawa Public Library Board approved partnering with Library and Archives Canada to build a new joint facility. Anticipated to open in 2024, the new building will be designed by a renowned architectural team working with the city, states a release.

A Request for Proposals for professional design services for the new library was released earlier this year to five shortlisted teams including:

• Diamond Schmitt Architects (Canada), KWC Architects (Canada);
• Mecanoo International b.v. (Holland), NORR Architects & Engineers Ltd (Canada);
• Patkau Architects (Canada), MSDL Architects (Canada), GRC Architects (Canada);
• Revery Architects Inc. (Canada), GRC Architects (Canada); and
• Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects (Denmark), KPMB Architects (Canada), Hobin Architecture Inc. (Canada).

The design services contract is expected to be awarded by the end of 2018, and the design process would include public consultations, explained a previous release.

The destination will serve as a national institution, a city-wide resource and a community gathering space.

According to the release, the facility will be located at the eastern edge of LeBreton Flats, near homes and businesses and green spaces, including the Garden of the Provinces. In addition, light rail will figure prominently into access to this new facility, as Pimisi Station is less than 300 metres away.

Pedestrian access will also be improved with planned road and intersection modifications to facilitate movement and support integration with the Central Business District and residential neighbourhoods to the east and south.

The city will contribute $104.2 million to the $174.8–million facility, along with the entire cost of an $18.1-million 200-space parking garage.