New Central Library

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I still wish it had more windows so it would be more translucent, but can't wait to check it out.

Anyone who doesn't think there are kids in the inner city needs to come to Bridgeland. There's a Mongol horde of children here.

It is incredibly bright inside and I cannot get enough of the use of wood. It is really well done.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by surferguy

I can attest that there was about eleventy thousand kids there this morning. Maybe more.

They got their timing right because most kids are off school today for whatever bogus excuse their teachers could come up with.

Feast of St. Higglemony, Faith Day, Celebration of Light, whatever, its the day after Halloween and the kids are tired and the teachers are hungover, so get some sleep and go to the new library!

[Flamesguy_SJ]

Originally Posted by TimSJ

It may not be a new library but i am looking forward to the new NB Museum on the waterfront. Hopefully it spurs on more Waterfront development in SJ

Again, this makes me so jealous! I agree that the NBM, if done correctly, has the potential to rival the new Halifax library as far as being a "statement piece" for the Uptown. Time will tell!

Originally Posted by KTrain

There are new libraries all over the city. We visit the Quarry Park one frequently.

There's more to libraries than just the books, especially with this downtown one. They've incorporated so many spaces to allow for more events of all sizes. It's really going to become a hub for activity for many groups within the city.

I think the mistake many people are making is classifying this as a library in the traditional sense. Like the ones we grew up with. It is so much more.

I managed to get a ticket to the Chris Hadfield talk tonight so I'm really looking forward to checking out the space.

Originally Posted by Bunk

It's not a branch, it's a central library, which does play a different role in the system. It's meant to be a city-wide draw, with programming that will have city-wide pull. Also, there are lots of children who live within a couple KM of the place. The inner city isn't what it was 20 years ago - it's full of children.

All of the above.

Obviously I can't speak to the age demographics of downtown Calgary, but I know a lot of city centre libraries in Canada have adjusted their thinking to overcome any lack of children or families in their immediate area. Personally speaking, at the library here in Saint John, we do a TON of programs outside our building, in existing spaces within our communities: community centres, after school programs, the YMCA, the Boys & Girls Club, etc. Plus, central staff usually have more of a role in providing support & guidance to the branches; we have the advantage of being able to specialize in a particular library "stream", whereas branch staff tend to be multidisciplinary, so to speak.

Anyhow, congratulations on what seems to be a beautiful library! I'll have to add it to my growing list of public libraries to visit.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by surferguy

It is incredibly bright inside and I cannot get enough of the use of wood. It is really well done.

heyo!

[RedHot25]

I was there at lunchtime.

Place is gorgeous. And functional. Well done.

[dubc80]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

I was there at lunchtime.

Place is gorgeous. And functional. Well done.

Yep, I went to check it out today too. Really nice inside. Will probably return on the weekend with the kids.

Love the bamboo or whatever wood was used.

I was surprised at how many break-out or special function areas there were. Lots of little side rooms for projects, workshops. There's also the main auditorium area with the stadium seating. Probably where Hadfield will be talking tonight.

There was a bunch of interactive type displays. For a few moments I was wondering if this was a library or Telus Spark.

There's a teen section with video games. LOL. Kids were playing Mario Kart and Street Fighter.

There's also a book conveyor belt thing, but I wasn't able to see it in action or find out what it actually was supposed to do. Transport books throughout the building, I assume...?

What surprised me even more was that there was a ton of people actually using the space to study, work, etc. I expected it to be all tourist rubber-necking types like me there on Day 1.

[dubc80]

Oh yeah, the coolest part was an "Old Calgary" section where they had a bunch of old city/provincial archived stuff.

There they have volumes of every one of the Flames in-game brochures called "Blaze" from the early 80's on-wards. Archived in these big encyclopedia type books.

It was really fun leafing through at all the ads. I laughed out loud at some of the cigarette and car print ads. There was lots of local advertisements for car dealerships, golf courses, restaurants etc which have been shut down decades ago.

If you like that Nostalgic Calgary thread on here, you'll love this section of the library.

[Mass_nerder]

I'm excited to see the Design Matters lecture series move over here from the St.Louis. The St.Louis is a beautiful space, but not set up for lectures.

[Muffins]

Originally Posted by dubc80

Yep, I went to check it out today too. Really nice inside. Will probably return on the weekend with the kids.

Love the bamboo or whatever wood was used.

I was surprised at how many break-out or special function areas there were. Lots of little side rooms for projects, workshops. There's also the main auditorium area with the stadium seating. Probably where Hadfield will be talking tonight.

There was a bunch of interactive type displays. For a few moments I was wondering if this was a library or Telus Spark.

There's a teen section with video games. LOL. Kids were playing Mario Kart and Street Fighter.

There's also a book conveyor belt thing, but I wasn't able to see it in action or find out what it actually was supposed to do. Transport books throughout the building, I assume...?

What surprised me even more was that there was a ton of people actually using the space to study, work, etc. I expected it to be all tourist rubber-necking types like me there on Day 1.

Hey mom and dad, i'm going to the library to "study".

[OldDutch]

but we should have given it to the Flames guys....

All seriousness, this is great. Love the location. Central location for equal access to all Children who this library really is for.

The City has just killed it with the East Village. I remember walking through there 15 years ago at 2AM and thinking I was a dead man. Now look at it.

Oh and our street alone in Sunnyside has around 30 children on our block alone. It's family ville so I look forward to the horde having fun at the coolest library ever!

[oldschoolcalgary]

Gotta say, i work in the architecture field, and wasn't too excited for the project; the facade didn't really do it for me... i liked the archway and thought the rendering on the interior looked good...

but walking into that building? Wow.... super, super impressed with it. The word "World Class" gets thrown around a lot, but this project is truly as good as projects that i saw in Toyko...

I honestly didn't think we could get this kind of precision in construction in calgary... Snohetta, Dialogue, CMLC, the City and Stuart Olsen Dominion and especially, the concrete, finish carpenters and the millworkers deserve a ton of credit.

cannot help but be inspired by this kind of building as an architect... hopefully the general public will be equally knocked out by it.

Outstanding

[bizaro86]

Is transit actually free on Saturday?

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Is transit actually free on Saturday?

Yes, but only until 6:00 I believe.

[14]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

Gotta say, i work in the architecture field, and wasn't too excited for the project; the facade didn't really do it for me... i liked the archway and thought the rendering on the interior looked good...

but walking into that building? Wow.... super, super impressed with it. The word "World Class" gets thrown around a lot, but this project is truly as good as projects that i saw in Toyko...

I honestly didn't think we could get this kind of precision in construction in calgary... Snohetta, Dialogue, CMLC, the City and Stuart Olsen Dominion and especially, the concrete, finish carpenters and the millworkers deserve a ton of credit.

cannot help but be inspired by this kind of building as an architect... hopefully the general public will be equally knocked out by it.

Outstanding

Agreed. For all those who may google these Calgary based companies, correct spelling is Dialog and Stuart Olson.

[sleepingmoose]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

Yes, but only until 6:00 I believe.

It’s 7:00am to 7:00pm.

[Wormius]

Beautiful space. Kids had a blast with the giant lightbrite and board games. Will go back on Saturday when we have more time.

Took forever to find our window though. Had no idea they were by the entrance.

The only thing I don’t like is how crowded the building is amongst the others. The streets are kind of narrow so you don’t really get the same sense of “arriving” I guess. It would feel more open if the other buildings weren’t around or more space around it like the Vancouver Public Library .

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by Wormius

The only thing I don’t like is how crowded the building is amongst the others. The streets are kind of narrow so you don’t really get the same sense of “arriving” I guess. It would feel more open if the other buildings weren’t around or more space around it like the Vancouver Public Library .

I kind of like the contrast between old and new when you approach from the east.

The building really is beautiful and there is so much to do inside.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Soo the crowds are getting pretty crazy in here...

Should've made it bigger!

[Wormius]

Ah, that looks better. Coming in from the west along 9th, the CP tracks and the parking lot didn’t have the same visual effect.

[Bunk]

Checked it out today. Indeed, it is a very, very special place.

The building itself, inside and out is really fantastic. Something for our city to be proud of.