New Central Library to go in East Village?

[seattleflamer]

They needed to replace the location. I always thought the East Village had so much potential and I'm glad there the library will be a nice focal point for the area.

Just don't hire the Koolhaas, the architect for SPL's central library. The design is too avant gard and is already dated and has never really fit in with the rest of downtown Seattle's buildings.

For that kind of money, I want a building whose design fits the area and classic enough that it will span the a couple of generations. I do like Vancouver Public's main library's design though it the neo-classical and it is hardpressed to fit in that area.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by seattleflamer

For that kind of money, I want a building whose design fits the area and classic enough that it will span the a couple of generations. I do like Vancouver Public's main library's design though it the neo-classical and it is hardpressed to fit in that area.

It'll be tough to design it to fit the area if it's gonna be one of the first things built.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by SebC

It'll be tough to design it to fit the area if it's gonna be one of the first things built.

Then I guess it's very important the city gets this right, as it will set the tone for the entire project.

edit - They already have the Cantos Music building designed, which incorporates the King Eddy, so they'd have some sort of vibe to feed off of.

[frinkprof]

New central library will hug C-Train tunnel


By Jason Markusoff, Calgary Herald August 10, 2011 8:12 PM


By choosing to build the new central library in the East Village block next to City Hall, the library board takes on the challenge of developing its new facility right over the LRT tunnel that leads to the Stampede grounds.

The lot had been considered years ago for a University of Calgary downtown campus, but had sat dormant as the East Village development agency shopped around parcels to would-be builders of the resurgent neighbourhood.

For the tracks and other reasons, library decision-makers first thought the block wouldn’t work. But they came to embrace the idea, as other advantages emerged and they began studying how cities elsewhere build atop tracks.

[...]

To get some ideas how it could be done, Calgary Public Library tapped a local architectural firm to offer concepts for a library that straddles the tracks.

It imagines a five-storey structure that spans most of the block opposite City Hall, with a large lobby on 3rd Street S.E. and a smaller lobby greeting East Villagers at the end of the 8th Avenue cul-de-sac.

The actual “control point” entry would be on the second level, leading to the books and other key library features. The centre strip, where the tracks and tunnel sat, would be an open atrium, letting in natural light to the upper floors.

[...]

The feasibility document suggests the other part of a so-called “cultural campus” could be a stand-alone facility to the north of the library, along 7th Avenue S.E.

“A cultural campus could take many forms,” Meek said.

There’s much work — from surveying to fundraising to possible environment assessments — to go before the ceremonial shovels come out.

[...]

Of the various downtown sites the board studied, the East Village lot was the only one that couldn’t feature underground parking, on account of the LRT tunnel.

However, it’s expected the Calgary Parking Authority will move ahead with plans for a parkade on the other side of 9th Avenue to help handle library businesses, and make up for some of the lost surface parking in East Village.

Link to full article

Massing rendering:

[Barnes]

I thought there was talk of busting through the middle of city hall to allow Stephen ave to flow right through to the east village and now they want to block it further?

There's some cool buildings in crack cul de sac that I hope will be saved and restored.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Barnes

I thought there was talk of busting through the middle of city hall to allow Stephen ave to flow right through to the east village and now they want to block it further?

There's some cool buildings in crack cul de sac that I hope will be saved and restored.

That would be 8th avenue in the background, not 9th ave though right?

Well okay, not 8th ave technically... but just the road that leads to that parking area. The sheer glass structure on City Hall ends just south of that, and that IMO looks in line with that rendering.

Let's be honest though it's still very early in the planning stages, and I think this rendering was just for the possibility of this proposal. Nothing to worry about when it comes to Stephen Ave in this location yet I'd imagine.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Barnes

I thought there was talk of busting through the middle of city hall to allow Stephen ave to flow right through to the east village and now they want to block it further?

There's some cool buildings in crack cul de sac that I hope will be saved and restored.

Pretty sure the only building in that general area that is guaranteed to stay is the King Eddie . . . Everything else is likely to get turfed.

There is, however, that old brink factory building on the riverfront they saved. There might be one or two more.

[Bunk]

St. louis is also being restored. Anything of historical value is staying.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Barnes

I thought there was talk of busting through the middle of city hall to allow Stephen ave to flow right through to the east village and now they want to block it further?

There's some cool buildings in crack cul de sac that I hope will be saved and restored.

Well the King Eddy will be restored and be part of the Cantos National Music Centre.





http://www.alliedworks.com/projects/...centre-canada/

[4X4]

^Is that thing actually going to be built? Like that? With the catwalk/plus...40?

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by 4X4

^Is that thing actually going to be built? Like that? With the catwalk/plus...40?

Yes. There is a funding gap to be closed first though.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Yes. There is a funding gap to be closed first though.

Amazing. That building just looks so... Un-Calgary.

It has a DP already? Just needs financing?

[Weiser Wonder]

Wow that will be a nice addition.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Barnes

I thought there was talk of busting through the middle of city hall to allow Stephen ave to flow right through to the east village and now they want to block it further?

The tracks are staying, and at 8th Ave, the public walkthrough over the tracks has to still be well above grade.

That why I've suggested before that the public connection would follow the current steps up at city hall, continue through the municpal building at the current lobby level, then over 3rd Street at +15 level, and remaining at the higher level until crossing over the tracks, before coming down to the cul-de-sac on 8th between 3rd and 4th SE.

It's the only way its ever going to happen, I think. You could Renovate the inside of city hall somehow to line the walk with more retail & separate it from the rest of the building a little bit.

It would take a little bit of creativity to make it work well, but I think it's doable.

Also, the tracks will still be required even when the S-NW line of the LRT gets tunneled under 8th ave. This set of tracks would than become the only interconnection between the lines, which they would still need. It makes no sense to abandon this one only to have to try and build one somewhere else.

[Tyler]

Markusoff just released this rendering:

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Markusoff just released this rendering:

It's just a conceptual rendering, BTW. The finished product will not look like that.

If the rendering is accurate, it looks like they want to significantly widen 3rd Street. Or perhaps they just added space for the conceptual renders, so that they could get the perspective to look like they wanted

[MrMastodonFarm]

http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2011/...ntral-library/

It’s unlikely that the final product will resemble this; there’s still an actual design process farther down the road.

But it gives us an idea of what library officials are thinking about. Expect a similar snazz factor.

“They’re looking for a building of significance, that elevates standards,” library CEO Gerry Meek said of his board.

The +15 from City Hall will likely serve as that major restoration of the Stephen Avenue link between downtown and East Village.

[Bigtime]

Not a fan of the main E-W link from the municipal building being a +15.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Not a fan of the main E-W link from the municipal building being a +15.

They should make the +15 look like the Peace Bridge.

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Markusoff just released this rendering:

Is Calatrava designing that red +15?