Building Projects

Members of the Vaughan Public Library Board, Mayor and Members of Council were in attendance for the site dedication for Vaughan Public Libraries’ (VPL) new Pleasant Ridge Library, Sunday, Dec. 8.  The new 8,500 square foot neighbourhood library will be built as an addition to the North Thornhill Community Centre.  A community meeting followed providing residents with an opportunity to view the proposed design.

Construction of the new library is expected to begin in the spring of 2014 and be completed by fall.

(From L to R) Gary McCluskie, Principal, Diamond Schmitt Architects, Marlon Kallideen, Commissioner, City of Vaughan, VPL CEO Margie Singleton, VPL Board Chair, Michael McKenzie, Ward 4 Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco, Luciano Di Giuiseppe, Project Manager, Maystar General Contractors, Maya Goldenberg, President, former Thornhill Woods Community Association, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, City of Vaughan, Joe Maio, President, Maystar General Contractors, VPL Board Trustee Pradeep Puri, VPL Board Trustee Steve Kerwin, Ward 3 Councillor & VPL Board Trustee Rosanna DeFrancesca and VPL Board Trustee Lorraine de Boer were on-site to dedicate the north entrance area of the North Thornhill Community Centre as the site of the future home of VPL’s Pleasant Ridge Library.

Master of Ceremonies - VPL Board Chair Michael McKenzie

Master of Ceremonies - VPL Board Chair Michael McKenzie

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua

Architect's rendering (exterior view): the spectacular yet tasteful design of the new Pleasant Ridge Library will focus on creating a welcoming destination that uses an abundance of natural light and glass, and features a barrier-free space that is flexible and adaptable. The library will transition seamlessly from the community centre, yet will become a focal point of the community.

The new library will be located north of the existing community centre building in an area bounded by the existing tennis courts to the west, existing parking lot to the north and east, and the existing community centre building to the south.

Actual view of where the library will be in relation to the community centre

Architect's rendering (reading area): the light-filled reading area is located along the windows of the library. The added ceiling height provides the area with extra volume and light, while the warm colours help to create a great ambiance for reading or interacting with others.

Architect's rendering (night view): at night, the light and transparency of the library will continue to make it a focal point of the community.

VPL CEO Margie Singleton presents at community meeting

Vaughan Public Libraries (VPL) is pleased to invite all area residents to a site dedication ceremony and community meeting on Sunday, Dec. 8 for the new public library that is being built in the Thornhill Woods community. The library has been named Pleasant Ridge Library and the design build contract has been awarded to Maystar General Contractors Inc. in collaboration with Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. Please join VPL in celebrating the launch of this exciting new project, and take a sneak peek at the proposed design of the new library at the community meeting.

SITE DEDICATION CEREMONY
Sunday, December 8, 2 p.m.
North Thornhill Community Centre (North Entrance)
300 Pleasant Ridge Avenue, Thornhill

COMMUNITY MEETING
Sunday, December 8, 2:30 – 4 p.m.
North Thornhill Community Centre (Art Room)
300 Pleasant Ridge Avenue, Thornhill

To register, please email at vpl.admin@vaughan.ca, or call 905-653-7323 ext. 4103. We look forward to seeing you there!

Rendering of Pleasant Ridge Library - Outside View

Vaughan Public Libraries’ Building Projects blog presents a special guest post by Michael McKenzie, Chair, Vaughan Public Library Board.

In the 2011 budget deliberations, Vaughan Public Libraries was awarded funds to construct a library as an addition to the North Thornhill Community Centre. The Request for Proposal (RFP) was released November 2011 inviting bids from architect contractor teams to design and build this library. Bids from ten proponents were evaluated and three were identified and prequalified to advance to stage two of the competition. All three submitted proposals that far exceeded the approved budget and in July 2012, stage two of the RFP competition was cancelled.

The scope of the project was then modified and the three prequalified bidders were invited to submit revised proposals to a new RFP. Only two of the three prequalified bidders submitted proposals. Unfortunately, neither were compliant, and the bidding process was cancelled. What this all means is that the building of a library in the North Thornhill Community Centre has been delayed from the original estimates we provided.

On behalf of the VPL Board I would like to apologize to the residents of Vaughan for the delay. The Board remains committed to building a library in the North Thornhill Community Centre and ensuring we are responsible in the spending of the resources we have been entrusted with. We will continue to work with the City to move the development of the North Thornhill Library forward and to provide the Citizens of Vaughan with many more welcoming destinations that educate, excite and empower our community.

In February, VPL visited two schools in the Thornhill Woods neighbourhood – Stephen Lewis Secondary School and Forrest Run Public School to gather ideas from the students on the new library being built in their community. Over 17 teens and 80 Grade 3 students enthusiastically shared their opinions and ideas for the new library. Students from Forrest Run Public School drew their dream library on paper and filled the graffiti wall with their drawings!

WHILE YOU WAIT FOR THE NEW LIBRARY
Join us at the North Thornhill Community Centre in Activity Room B every Thursday afternoon for Family Storytime from 3:45 – 4:15 p.m. No registration required.

VPL has seven locations serving Concord, Kleinburg, Maple, Thornhill and Woodbridge. Find the three libraries closest to the North Thornill Community Centre & District Park area and York Region Transit/VIVA bus routes to take you there.

In January, VPL held two community meetings at the North Thornhill Community Centre to gather ideas from the residents on what types of services they would like to see in the new Library. Despite the cold weather, many residents came out to share their ideas and suggestions. A graffiti wall was created by all the participants, who either wrote or drew their ”Big Idea” for the new library.

WHILE YOU WAIT FOR THE NEW LIBRARY
Join us at the community centre in Activity Room B every Thursday afternoon for Family Storytime from 3:45 – 4:15 p.m. No registration required.

VPL has seven locations serving Concord, Kleinburg, Maple, Thornhill and Woodbridge. Find the three libraries closest to the North Thornill Community Centre & District Park area and York Region Transit/VIVA bus routes to take you there.