Exciting news for Vaughan citizens about the New Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital Library. Renderings and floor plan of the beautiful new 4000 sq ft library coming to your neighbourhood are now available for your viewing!
View from Children’s Area facing east towards main entrance lobby
South view from main corridor towards library
Main entrance of library facing south towards Major Mackenzie Dr.
Reading Lounge facing north towards main corridor
Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital Library Floor Plan
Vellore Village Library Exterior
Vellore Village Library beautiful interior architect
Vellore Village Library outdoor sitting patio
Reading spaces filled with abundant natural light with various seating options
Early in 2017, Mackenzie Health (MH) and Vaughan Public Libraries (VPL) began an innovative collaboration of a proposed shared facility rooted in a shared vision of library space and services at the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital (MVH).
This shared vision was to:
Guided by this vision and design work, the project with our partners began. The project is well underway with an anticipated opening of the new 4000 sq ft. Hospital Library in December 2020.
Margie Singleton (CEO) and Aleksandra Dowiat-Vine (Director of Growth & Communications) visit Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital Library, which will be located at the main entrance of Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital on Major Mackenzie Road
Future Service Desk area
Library view from Hospital Lobby on main level
View into library marketplace and sitting area from library’s main entrance
View inside library’s stacks area
Stunning architecture, environmental stewardship, connections with local histories, and serving growing communities by providing exciting spaces are just a few notable aspects of the recipients of the 2019 Ontario Library Association (OLA) New Library Building Award.
Vaughan Public Libraries’ (VPL) Civic Centre Resource Library is one of the four recipients of the distinguished award, including Brampton Library, Hamilton Public Library, and Toronto Public Library- Albion Branch.
The OLA Library Building Award encourages and showcases excellence in the architectural design and planning of libraries in Ontario. The award is divided into two alternating categories (Library Architectural and Design Transformation, and New Library Buildings) and runs every third year to allow a critical number of projects in all types of libraries to accumulate.
“Newly-built libraries today reflect the strong desire for public places that instill a sense of community pride and are, at the same time, highly flexible and functional spaces,” comments Shelagh Paterson, executive director, OLA.
Civic Centre Resource Library, ZAS Architects + Interiors
From the jury: “An amazing architectural and geometric engineering achievement! A visually stunning façade that appears to change from transparent to solid as the daylight changes throughout the day. The library is built as a visionary makerspace that provides a much needed centre for community learning, gathering, creating and celebration. Through the innovative design process, ZAS Architects created impressively wide-open spaces that allow flexibility for library programming and that can be easily redefined without limitations. The result is a cultural destination that inspires creativity, provides a welcoming place to gather and interact, and that has attracted new users enriching community life in the rapidly growing City of Vaughan”.
Margie Singleton (Chief Executive Officer, Vaughan Public Libraries) and Paul Stevens (Senior Principal, ZAS Architects + Interiors) receive the OLA Building Award for the Civic Centre Resource Library, at OLA’s Annual Institute on the Library as Place event on July 10, 2019.
PROGRESS ON CONSTRUCTION WORK
The Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Library (VMC) and Storefront Library construction fit-out phase continues with great progress. This includes installation of many internal walls and partitions. Vaughan Public Libraries’ staff continue to meet regularly with project architects and discussions regarding signage, wayfinding and graphic design are ongoing. Substantial completion continues to be targeted for mid 2020 followed by the opening of the full facility.
View from west into children’s area
View from south into Storefront Library
Inside Storefront Library.
Book return installed!
Library entrance area. Elevators and staff workroom situated behind walls.
Quiet study area overlooking lobby.
Library view west towards children’s area.
It’s undeniable: Spring is in the air and everyone is yearning to be outside. Vaughan Public Libraries has several beautiful reading gardens that are now open for you to use and enjoy.
As the days get warmer, what could be more perfect than reading outdoors? Come by to enjoy our outdoor spaces where you can enjoy comfortable seating, nice views, and some fresh air. Sit back and read a book or maybe even write one! Feel free to take out magazines or newspapers from our collection and stay up-to-date while relishing the breeze. And, of course, also enjoy access to our free Wi-Fi connection on your devices. Consider the outdoor spaces an additional library space for your use and pleasure.
Young customer enjoying outdoor reading in Kleinburg Library’s reading garden.
Comfortable seating and picturesque views in the Civic Centre Resource Library (CCRL) reading garden.
CCRL’s second floor beautiful outdoor patio that is full of natural light.
CCRL’s second floor beautiful patio
Beautiful exterior reading garden at Pleasant Ridge Library
Seniors practicing their square dancing in the Pleasant Ridge Library reading garden.
Vellore Village Library’s large outdoor balcony overlooking skate park
BACKGROUND
Construction of the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Library (VMC) and Storefront location is progressing well. The 9,000 sq. ft. library located on the second floor of the office building features popular design elements found in all VPL libraries. These elements will include a marketplace featuring new and popular materials, quiet and group study, bright and open children’s area, mobile furniture on castors, and newest and self-service technologies. The 400 sq. ft. Storefront library will be located below the library directly at the street level. The Storefront library will be completely self-service, feature access to new and popular materials and will be accessible to users by scanning their library card.
LIBRARY INTERIORS
MJMA architectural firm has been retained by the project partners to design the interior spaces and finishes for the library, the City’s recreational space and the YMCA. VPL staff have worked closely with the architects since 2017 to complete the interior finishes ensuring the VPL Board’s vision for both spaces was incorporated as per the Board direction. At a recent meeting of the Vaughan Public Library Board, the architects presented the interior designs for both the Community library space and the Storefront library and solicited the Board’s feedback. Suggestions supplied by the Board have been incorporated and enabled the library construction to progress.
-The 9,000 sq. ft. Vaughan Metropolitan Library design
-Interior designs for the Community library space and Storefront library
Construction continues on the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Library (VMC) and storefront locations in the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) office building in the city’s new downtown area.
The 400 sq. ft. storefront location will be located at the street level and will feature access to new and popular materials and will be accessible to users by swiping their library card. The 9,000 sq. ft. library will be located on the second floor of the building and will have access to a community kitchen enabling VPL to introduce a suite of culinary literacy programming once opened.
The PwC building which houses the two libraries.
The view from the southeast. The library is located on the second floor.
The storefront library at the east side of the building.
The northwest view towards the Children’s Area.
The view towards the west.
South view from the second floor.
When you step into the entrance of the Civic Centre Resource Library (CCRL), take a look to your right to see the new LEED® plaque pictured below that we just received. The beautifully-etched glass signifies CCRL as the recipient of LEED® Silver Certification.
LEED® stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is an internationally recognized green building rating system. It provides a framework to create healthy and high-performance buildings that can result in cost-savings. CCRL has various features that improve the overall environmental impact of the building saving energy, conserving water and reducing waste including:
Would you like to know more about the architecture and environmental features? Join us at CCRL for a guided tour of the building, on Tuesdays or by request, or peruse our LEED® brochure.
Silver LEED® plaque at Civic Centre Resource Library.
Vaughan Public Libraries’ ten locations have so much to offer, but have you ever noticed the ceiling of your local branch? From simple lighting to hanging sound baffles, each library has its own unique design elements to its ceiling. Let’s take a quick look at some of the most recently constructed/renovated locations.
Triangular baffles and circular lighting give Vellore Village Library a feeling of space and airiness.
Hanging white sound baffles and circular lights greet you as you enter Civic Centre Resource Library.
High ceilings with rectangular baffles and circular lighting at Civic Centre Resource Library give “shape” to a comfortable area to read.
The hanging lighting and playful colours add a feeling of joy in Bathurst Clark Resource Library’s LEARN IT! Lab.
A fun curve of light greets you as you enter the LEARN IT! Lab from the north entrance.
Lights and circles catch your eye as you enter the LEARN IT! Lab from the east entrance.
What have you noticed on the ceiling of your local library? From exquisite details to simple lines, be sure to “look up” while you are looking for your favourite book next time you visit the library!