The challenge was to design a building appropriate to its neighbours while maintaining the stature of a major public institution and anticipating the developments of future technologies. The library occupies an entire city block adjacent to the city’s historic downtown core and bounded by three hundred-year old churches in traditional Gothic style.
The building is organized on either side of the “Great Reading Hall”. This “L” shaped space separates the outer stack areas from the entrance court, which addresses the corner. As the heart of the building, the hall is a continuous two and one half-story volume with an exposed curved metal roof and clerestory windows. The full height windows at each end of the hall create a strong visual connection to the exterior streetscape.
2001 Barrie Urban Design Award of Excellence
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- Barrie Public Library
